Ian MacNaughton

Edward Ian MacNaughton (30 December 1925 – 10 December 2002) was a Scottish actor, television producer and director, best known for his work with the Monty Python team.

MacNaughton was director and producer for all but four of the forty five episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus from 1969 to 1974, director of the group's first feature film And Now for Something Completely Different in 1971 and director of their two German episodes, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus in 1971 and 1972.

In 1973, the production team shared the BAFTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Programme for Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Early life Ian MacNaughton was born in Glasgow and educated at Strathallan School in Perthshire.

His elder brother was killed in World War II. MacNaughton spent a year in medical school before abandoning his plans to become a doctor and joining the Royal Marines for a year in 1945. He describes himself and Terry Jones as being so impressed with the Q... show that they specifically sought out MacNaughton to direct their own series."

Between 1969 and 1974 MacNaughton would produce and direct all but four of the 45 episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Having accepted the job of director and producer, MacNaughton announced to the Pythons' dismay that he had to take a holiday and would be unavailable for the first four shows, which were consequently directed by John Howard Davies. Initially, there was some friction between MacNaughton and the Pythons because of their close involvement with the way the show was directed, but by the end of the first series he had become one of the team and his contribution was significant. In 1970 the team filmed the second series of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

In 1971 MacNaughton directed the team's first film, And Now For Something Completely Different, which was a remake of the most popular sketches from the show's first two series. In the same year, MacNaughton directed the group in the first of two German specials filmed in Bavaria called, Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus. The following year he directed the second episode of the Python's German specials, another comedy sketch show starring Spike Milligan, and the third series of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

MacNaughton directed episodes of several television series in 1973 and in 1974, including the pilot episode of Rising Damp with Leonard Rossiter, which received good reviews. Later that year he filmed the fourth and final series of Monty Python. In 1975, the second series of Spike Milligan's Q was commissioned by the BBC called Q6. MacNaughton directed Q6 in 1975, Q7 in 1977, Q8 in 1978 and Q9 in 1980.

In 1976, MacNaughton directed another pilot comedy sketch show called Out of the Trees, starring Monty Python alumnus Graham Chapman. They only filmed one episode, as the show was not commissioned by the BBC. In 1977 he directed five episodes of Middlemen, starring Frank Windsor. In 1979, he made the short film Le Pétomane about Joseph Pujol, starring Leonard Rossiter.

From the late 1970s onwards MacNaughton was based in Munich and he continued to work as a director in television and on stage. In 1980 he directed six episodes of the German comedy show, Harry Hocker läßt nicht locker, starring Harald Wolff. He also directed numerous operas and musicals, working in venues around the world, including Israel, Yugoslavia, Norway and Austria. In 1996 he directed Australian composer George Dreyfus' comedy, The Marx Sisters in Bielefeld and in 1997 Gerhard Baumann's Nyx in Munich. At the theatre in Hall, near Innsbruck in Austria he directed plays by Otto Grunmandl.

Personal life In 1958, MacNaughton married actress Rita Davies, with whom he had two children and who frequently guest-starred in episodes of Monty Python. They were married for 20 years before divorcing in 1978. In 1995, he married his second wife, Ike Ott, whom he had met while filming Monty Pythons German episodes in Bavaria in 1972.

Death In 2001 MacNaughton suffered extensive injuries in a car accident while returning to his home in Munich, Germany from the first night of a translation of Alan Ayckbourn's play Seasons Greetings in Hall, Austria. He eventually died from these injuries on 10 December 2002, aged 76.

Partial filmography Laxdale Hall (1953) - First Constable Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (1953) - Callum MacGregor X the Unknown (1956) - Haggis The Silent Enemy (1958) - Sentry outside Admiral's Office The Safecracker (1958) - Thomson Idol on Parade (1959) - (uncredited) The Bridal Path (1959) - Fisherman Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - Corporal Michael George Hartley (uncredited) Redcap (1964) - Corporal McCann Hollywood-Monster (1987) - Frederick McCloud

Awards and nominations BAFTA Awards 1970 Nominated for Best Light Entertainment for Monty Python's Flying Circus with John Howard Davies. 1971 Nominated for Best Light Entertainment Production for Monty Python's Flying Circus. 1973 Won for Best Light Entertainment Programme for Monty Python's Flying Circus. (Shared with production team) 1975 Nominated for Best Light Entertainment Programme for Monty Python's Flying Circus. Primetime Emmy Awards 1976 Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special for the Monty Python Show (1975).