Lifestyle

Man gets his whole town involved in hilarious Monty Python inspired joke

This hilarious footage shows good-humored villagers making fools of themselves after a resident put up a sign stating: “You are now entering the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Silly Walks.”

Self-confessed Monty Python fan James Ruffell, 37, decided he would bring some humor to the upmarket village where he lives during lockdown.

Ruffell put up a sign outside his house saying: “You are now entering the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Silly Walks, commence silly walking immediately’ and filmed the pedestrian’s reactions.”

James Ruffell's sign.
James Ruffell’s sign.Charlie Summers/SWNS.com

He wasn’t sure if his neighbors would take part, but soon scores of people were hopping, dancing and walking in silly ways past his house – all caught on camera.

John Cleese in the “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch.
John Cleese in the “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch.Courtesy Everett Collection

Ruffell, who lives in Sonning-on-Thames, Berks, England said: “I’m a Monty Python fan. The films are great. We watched ‘Holy Grail’ the other day and it still stands up.”

“It’s the basis for all modern comedy in my opinion. It’s timeless. I put up the sign because I saw something similar in the states and we live in a quiet village with little traffic so I thought it was the perfect opportunity.”

“I also set up a motion detection camera so it films people as they walk past, each night I go through the footage.”

Ruffell said that around 10 people perform a silly walk past his house each day – the eldest participant being 75 – and the youngest just three-months-old.

He added that there are famous residents in the village, including George Clooney, Jimmy Page and Theresa May – but they have yet to perform a silly walk.

Ruffell, a cinematographer, added: “I didn’t know if anyone would do it, but on the first day lots did. It seems that lots of people in the village have a good sense of humor. We’ve done four days worth of filming and we’ll keep going til lockdown ends.”

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Residents of Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire do silly walks.
Tony Kershaw/SWNS.com
Residents of Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire do silly walks.
Tony Kershaw/SWNS.com
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Charlie Summers/SWNS.com
Residents of Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire do silly walks.
Tony Kershaw/SWNS.com
Residents of Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire do silly walks.
Tony Kershaw/SWNS.com
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Residents of Sonning-on-Thames, Berkshire do silly walks.
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“It takes a while to go through all the footage, so we won’t do it every day. I’ll just pop the sign up now and again.”

James Ruffell.
James Ruffell.Charlie Summers/SWNS.com

One woman in the video, walking her two dogs, can be seen raising her legs preposterously high in front of her, while others appear to be mimicking John Cleese’s famous goosestep.

Another woman walks with her hands on her knees, crossing her arms over when her legs touch.

One young boy pauses to look to the left or right as he takes a pause between each step.

Ruffell added: “It’s just supposed to be a bit of fun. I’ve been posting the footage to social media in a close page and people in the village seem to be loving it.”

“We’ve got quite a few famous neighbors. I’m hoping they get involved.”

The Ministry of Silly Walks is a sketch from Monty Python’s television show the Flying Circus and featured in the first episode of the second season.