Monty Python star back on stage in his Sheffield hometown

Michael Palin performed a deleted scene from Life Of Brian yesterday, the first time he has delivered Monty Python material on stage in his Sheffield hometown for more than a decade.

The comic struggled to get through The Martyrdom of St. Brian without laughing at references to Brian’s ‘fingers full of naughtiness’, which was appreciated by the crowd at The Crossed Wires Podcast Festival.

The parody scripture reading was cut from the 1979 movie but did appear on the troupe’s Contractual Obligation Album the following year.

Palin, 82, revived it for a recording of the Nobody Expects The Michael Palin Podcast! yesterday, hosted by long-time fan Greg James.

Before the event, the Radio 1 breakfast host said: ‘Michael Palin is my hero. I have loved everything this man has ever made and I can’t wait to chat to him about growing up in Sheffield and of course how he managed to alter the course of comedy history.’

Previously at the festival, Jarvis Cocker lent his voice to a centenary edition of the BBC’s Shipping Forecast, recorded exclusively for the festival. ‘The Shipping Forecast is technically a weather guide for sailors, but it helps people navigate in other ways,’ said the Pulp frontman. ‘For insomniacs, it’s a mantra to help drift off to sleep.’

@bbcsounds

"Might be one of the best moments of my life." To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Shipping Forecast on the BBC, Jarvis Cocker has recorded a special shipping forecast to be broadcast for an audience at the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival in Sheffield. Today (Friday) marks 100 years since the first broadcast of the Shipping Forecast on the BBC on 4 July 1925. The Crossed Wires festival will welcome ‘ships’ fans to a special 100th anniversary programme with Radio 4 announcers Lisa Costello and Viji Alles, hosted by Chris Mason. Shipping Forecast | Listen on BBC Sounds

♬ original sound - BBC Sounds

The Crossed Wires Podcast Festival continues across the weekend.

Published: 5 Jul 2025