Seriously Silly: The Life of Terry Jones

by Robert Ross, Michael Palin (Foreword)

'This book is timely. I hope it will send people back to his work, whether it be films he's directed, roles he's played ... and everything else that made him everybody's favourite polymath.'
MICHAEL PALIN

Seriously Silly is an intimate portrait of Terry Jones - Python, actor, director, historian, reluctant national treasure and purveyor of sincere silliness - written by the man he chose to tell the story of his life.

From his Welsh upbringing in Colwyn Bay, to meeting his lifelong friend Michael Palin at Oxford through revue sketches, anarchic children's shows and the creative genius of Monty Python, this is the story of a comedy legend. Throughout this journey, Terry's extraordinary determination and resilience shine through, not least in his final years as he battled with dementia.

Written by his close friend Robert Ross, with a foreword from Michael Palin (and the blessing of and cooperation of his family and the people who knew him best) Seriously Silly is not only the definitive celebration of a true pioneer of comedy, but a loving portrayal of the man behind the laughter.

Genres: Audiobook

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 6, 2025

About the author

Robert Ross is the leading authority on British Comedy. Beginning with The Carry On Companion, in 1996, he has written a library of books including in depth celebrations; The Monty Python Encyclopedia, The Goodies Rule OK, Forgotten Heroes of Comedy, Official BBC tributes to Fawlty Towers, Last of the Summer Wine and Steptoe & Son, and acclaimed biographies dedicated to Marty Feldman and Sid James. Most recently, Robert was the co-author of The Carry On Girls which was named as Book of the Week in the Daily Mail in January 2024. He is a frequent face on television, appearing on such diverse programmes as the BBC News, Blue Peter, Ronnie Corbett: His 30 Funniest Moments, Sir Bruce Forsyth: Mr. Entertainment, Richard & Judy, When Classic Comedy Goes Horribly Wrong, The Barbara Windsor Story, and Norman Wisdom: His Story. Robert is the founder and chair of Write On Comedy.

Reviews

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an biography of Terry Jones written by a friend. It is not - quite - warts and all but as I was reading it I realised that I didn't want that. The world is too full of disillusionment to need a biography that would tell me that Terry Jones was a terrible arsehole. That seems not to have been true anyway, but it is nice not to read a hatchet job.

Having said that I'm never sure if biographies should be in the hands of friends. I thought about this when I finished the biography of Anthony Powell written by Hilary Spurling. But I'm not going to hold that against Robert Ross.

This does an excellent job of taking you through Terry Jones's career and life. He seems to have loved his working life even if he could be uncompromising about it in a way that other people might have found irritating. I'm not sure Ross's version of the Python years would stand up to in-depth scrutiny and John Cleese is notable by his absence. Mostly.

However I think Ross does a fine job of writing about a friend and giving you a good idea of what he was like (with hints at his more difficult qualities without digging too deeply into them.) The final chapters as dementia takes its toll on him is heart breaking. It seems a particularly sick joke to make a man who loved words - spoken or written - and remove his capacity for them. It seems cruel.

The other thing this book has made me want to do is re-visit Monty Python. It's been a while since I re-watched the whole thing (and the films.) December 2025 might be a good time to do it.

[Ward Lehmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish he’d interviewed Cleese, who has said many times how he hated being stuck in armor for hours while the Terry’s arranged the perfect shot for Holy Grail. Would have liked to hear what else he thought. Nevertheless, a splendid book, if a little too much of the kid glove.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously Brilliant

This is not a seriously silly book, it is a naughty masterpiece. Now go away I didn't vote for you!