Hell's Grannies

The "Hell's Grannies" sketch appears in the inaugural 1969 episode of the British sketch comedy series "Monty Python's Flying Circus." Specifically, it was featured in the very first episode of the show's first season, titled "Whither Canada?" The sketch was notably presented in the style of a serious news report.

The sketch details the activities of a violent street gang composed entirely of elderly women who terrorize young men in London. The grannies are shown attacking a flashy young man, stealing his everyday items, and engaging in general hooliganism. It parodies contemporary news reports about youth gangs and mods and rockers.

The members of the Monty Python troupe—Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam—dressed in drag to play the violent elderly women. This cross-dressing was a frequent comedic staple of the Flying Circus series. The deadpan news voiceover was provided by John Cleese.

Yes, the sketch features a highly memorable secondary gag involving gangs of "Keep Left" signs and mindless thugs who terrorize people by reading philosophy. Another gang mentioned in the segment are the vicious baby-snatchers. This rapid escalation of absurd gang concepts is a hallmark of Monty Python's writing style.