AND now for something completely different at an upcoming North East auction sale.

A large descending comic foot was one of the features of the Monty Python’s Flying Circus TV shows.

Now a ceramic foot created by a Sunderland-born woman who worked as a model-maker for the Pythons will be sold by Boldon Auction Galleries today.

She is a relative of Roger Gill from East Boldon, who is putting the foot up for sale.

The 30cm-high foot was one of series made for the Python team to give as gifts.

The foot in the sale was presented as a present to Roger’s late mother.

He said:” My relative was a very talented model maker for films and TV productions.

“She moved to London and became friends with the Monty Python team and still keeps in touch with them.”

The foot is a replica of one made for footballer Gary Lineker, which features a bruised toe. Also in the sale is a signed book by Python team member Terry Gilliam, titled ‘Animations of Mortality’ which was a present to Roger’s parents.

Auctioneer Caroline Hodges said: “Anyone who watched the iconic TV comedy sketch show between 1969 to 1974 will remember the enlarged foot crashing down with a splat in Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

“The foot is based on a segment taken from the painting ‘An Allegory with Venus and Cupid’ by Italian painter Agnolo Bronzino, which hangs in the National Gallery, London.

“Terry Gilliam saw this painting and was inspired to ‘borrow’ Cupid’s foot and immortalise it on TV.”

The foot is estimated at £200-£300.

The first episode of Monty Python was recorded at the BBC on September 7 1969 and shown on October 5, with 45 episodes airing over four series from 1969 to 1974

It included animations created by Gilliam.