Upper Class Twit of the Year

The Upper Class Twit of the Year is a classic sketch that was seen on the T.V. show Monty Python's Flying Circus, and also in an altered form in the movie And Now For Something Completely Different.

It is about an obstacle-course race between five stereotypical upper-class twits (idiots), to determine the 127th Annual Upper-Class Twit of the Year. The obstacles are:

Walking Along The Straight Line 

The Twits must walk along several narrow straight lines.

The Matchbox Jump 

The Twits must jump over a fence three matchboxes high.

Kicking The Beggar 

The Twits must approach a beggar with a tray and kick him until he falls over.

The Hunt Ball Photograph 

The Twits must have their photographs taken and make small talk with a pair of attractive females. This obstacle is not in And Now For Something Completely Different.

Reversing Into The Old Lady 

The Twits must get into their sports cars and reverse them into a cardboard cut-out of an old lady. One of the Twits manages to run himself over. This leads straight into...

Waking The Neighbour 

The Twits must drive their cars forwards and then attempt to wake up a neighbour who is attempting to get some sleep by slamming their doors, tooting their horns, etc.

Insulting The Waiter 

The Twits must be thoroughly rude to a waiter with a tray. This obstacle is not in And Now For Something Completely Different.

The Bar 

The Twits must make their way underneath a wooden bar suspended five feet off the ground. This obstacle is not in And Now For Something Completely Different.

Shooting The Rabbits 

Each Twit is given a shotgun, and he must shoot a rabbit that has been tied very firmly to stakes so it can't move around very much (as the Upper-Class Twit of the Year is only a one-day event). Several of the Twits are forced to bludgeon the rabbits to death with the butt of their gun or a fist. Their failure to hit the rabbits with their bullets is attributed to the misty conditions (caused by the smoke from the guns) and the shooting distance of one foot.

Taking The Bras Off The Debutantes 

The Twits must remove a bra from a mannequin representing a debutante while standing in front of it. It is claimed to be the most difficult obstacle by the commentator.

Shooting Themselves 

Finally, the Twits approach a table with five revolvers on it. The winner is the first Twit to shoot themselves.

The sketch ends with the medal ceremony. The three coffins of the winning Twits are placed on the medal rostrum and medals are draped around them.

See also: