A long-lost comedy sketch titled "The Bank Manager," starring British television legends John Cleese and Ronnie Barker, has been rediscovered by film preservationists nearly six decades after its original broadcast. The sketch, which explored the condescending attitudes of bank managers toward customers seeking overdrafts, was written by Terry Jones and Michael Palin, who would later co-found the iconic comedy troupe Monty Python with Cleese in 1969.
The 16mm film reel containing the sketch was found by the English film archivist group Film is Fabulous! It was part of a collection of comedy clips compiled by a former BBC film editor. The sketch originally aired in April 1967 as part of "The Frost Report," a satirical British television series hosted by David Frost. The episode in which "The Bank Manager" appeared was titled "Money."
"The Frost Report" was known for its sharp commentary and willingness to challenge political and social norms. By its second season, the show had begun to satirize institutions such as banks and the judiciary, as well as prominent political figures of the era, including then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson and Conservative Party leader Edward Heath.
Much of the second season of "The Frost Report" is considered lost media, a consequence of the BBC's former policy of wiping broadcast tapes to save costs. This practice has led to significant gaps in the BBC's archives from that period, predating the widespread availability of reruns and streaming services.
Film is Fabulous! has provided a digital scan of the recovered sketch to the BBC. The group is expected to return the original 16mm film, along with other rare materials, at the end of September. This discovery follows the group's recent unearthing of a sketch featuring comedian Marty Feldman, known for his role in "Young Frankenstein," which dated back to a 1968 BBC program. The recovered sketch showed Feldman portraying an ancient Egyptian tomb carving.
