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: Biography, Nonfiction, 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.

[Francis Pellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable. until the last couple of chapters it felt like the author was perhaps too friendly with Terry to be critical or bring up more difficult aspects of his history but i felt he ultimately told a very true story of the life and brilliance of this comedian legend.

[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!

[Malcolm Frawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not like Terry Jones hadn't earned a biography. A titan in English &, eventually, world comedy who was a founding member of Monty Python. And he achieved a lot I wasn't aware of as well. So, a good read. This book, however, loses a star because the author was a close friend of the subject & so the objectivity we would likely expect from a biographer is non-existent. For me, it got a bit cloying at times - just how much Ross admired, respected, hero-worshipped, even adored Jones. Which is not to say it isn't worth reading. I just would have preferred some distance between the subject and the scribe.

[Ray Smillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad that I read this. Always liked both his comedy acting and writing, particularly when he played deranged old ladies. He was much loved even if his idiosyncrasies could be a bit wearing to those who knew him best. I go as far back as Do Not Adjust Your Set, magnificent tomfoolery, showing my age. His final years were lovingly told as well, reflecting my personal life at the same time watching dementia slowly destroying my mum, who died exactly a day after Terry Jones.

[James Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A read that seemed to get better and better through the book. The most poignant part of it at the end when the cruel condition of dementia left him unable to communicate. An uncompromising polymath, this biography has some great stories and reminiscences and you get a real sense of what he was like.

I've now got to see all the films and books that I never knew he was part of.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely someone deserving of a biography with a career that went in all sorts of directions. I kind of wish it had been told in chronological order to see if there was more of an impact from one strand of his interests/life on another. Also felt a touch “Terry was the genius responsible for everything” for me.

[Leigh Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched and composed biography of the late Python, made more personal through the friendship between subject and author. I learned a great deal about Terry's endeavours I wasn't familiar with, and the sensitive way his dementia and passing are reported is a splendid touch. A well-rounded account of the life of a sorely-missed talent.