Before there was Monty Python and Ripping Yarns, there was The Complete and Utter History of Britain. Written by and starring comedy legends Michael Palin and Terry Jones, The New (Incomplete) Complete and Utter History of Britain, to be released on DVD and Blu-ray in April, will include the two surviving episodes, along with never-seen-before footage available to own for the first time in any format.

Shown in 1969, the same year that Python became part of the national consciousness, this series takes a typically skewed look at British history – and reports it as if television had been around to cover it at the time. A notable influence on television comedy, this series fed directly into the work they did for Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

The New (Incomplete) Complete and Utter History of Britain will be released on UK DVD and Blu-ray set on 7th April 2014 by Network Distributing at the RRP of £14.99.

The set will include:

• 50-minute feature containing new linking material by Palin and Jones

• Interview with producer Humphrey Barclay

• The first two episodes as transmitted (the only ones still to exist)

• The first two episodes as recorded (includes some different sketches to that which was transmitted)

• All existing film insert material used throughout the series, kept safe by Terry Jones for over 40 years

• Brand new booklet by archive television historian Andrew Pixley

• Extensive image gallery

• Script and production paperwork PDFs