English Heritage turn down request

English Heritage has turned down a request to erect a blue plaque in honour of Graham Chapman.

The Monty Python star was nominated for a historic marker, but turned down by the committee which decides which suggestions to pursue. Minutes of the meeting - held last year but only reported by The Mail on Sunday today - do not reveal why.

His former writing partner John Cleese told the newspaper: ‘I wonder why they have not decided to go ahead. It seems that a lot of these quangos have woke inclinations unrepresentative of most British people.'

It is not clear why it would not be 'woke' not to honour the comedian, as he was a passionate supporter of LGBT rights, publicly discussing his sexuality on British television as early as 1972 and co-founding Gay News. 

Chapman died aged 48 in 1989, making him eligible for the official blue plaques, which honour people who have been dead for at least 20 years and have achieved exceptional public recognition or eminence in their field.

 A spokesman for English Heritage said it had ‘carefully considered’ Chapman’s nomination, adding: ‘The selection process is highly competitive, with many exceptional candidates considered each year.’ It receives around 80 nominations a year and this year is erecting nine.

But another Python, Sir Michael Palin, said Chapman would have preferred the unofficial plaque put up in his honour on the side of the Angel pub in Highgate, North London, in 2012. The British Comedy Society marker notes that the comedian 'drank here often and copiously'.

Published: 11 Oct 2026