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Almost 30 years after being banned by the local authority on grounds of blasphemy, Monty Python’s The Life of Brian will finally be screened in the Devon resort of Torbay this Sunday.

Back in 1979, Torbay Council said the films AA rating (for ages 14 and over) was unsuitable and wanted it reclassified for adults only - the film’s distributors refused them, however, and as such no compromise was ever reached, leading to the movie never being screened in Torbay.

After an online poll resulted in The Life of Brian winning the chance to be shown at the English Riviera International Comedy Film Festival, Torbay Council sought legal advice and decided the 1979 ruling had been redundant for a number of years. Says Michael Palin:

“I was interested to read that the ban on Brian was to protect the people in Torbay, as Torbay had already been infected by Monty Python. “A long sketch, Scott of the Sahara had been filmed on Paignton Beach, and of course, famously, John Cleese got the idea for Fawlty Towers from a Torquay Hotel.”

And according to Torbay mayor Nick Bye, it’s about time.

“The world has moved on. I haven’t seen the film but I welcome its showing on Sunday.”