"Colin 'Bomber' Harris vs Colin 'Bomber' Harris" is a Monty Python comedy sketch in which wrestler Colin Harris (Graham Chapman) fights himself, Colin Harris. As Colin fights himself, a commentator (John Cleese, with Michael Palin as MC in both versions) hastily reports the events.
Sir Arthur Harris was the Air Marshal of the RAF during the second World War.[1] His heavy use of four engine bombers during the war earned him the nickname "Bomber Harris".
The routine dates back to Chapman's college days and he also performed it in the first episode of At Last The 1948 Show, broadcast in the UK on 15 February 1967. It was later adopted by the Pythons, who filmed a version for the second Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus episode, broadcast in Germany on 18 December 1972.[2] The routine also featured in many of the troupe's live shows and can be seen in the film of Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982). It was also cited in Monty Python's Personal Best as one of Graham Chapman's best sketches.[3]
The sketch was originally titled "Half Nelson" when A Clump of Plinths, the Cambridge Footlights Revue of 1963 premiered at the York Festival, and it was written by Tony Buffery (later replaced with Graham Chapman).[4] It was renamed "One-Man Wrestling" during the show's run on the West End.
John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin pay tribute to Graham Chapman, who died in 1989. They discuss their memories of him and select their favourite sketches in which he starred, including Colin `Bomber' Harris's solo wrestling match and spoof chat show A Quite Controversial Look at the World Around Us.