English Heritage has declined a request to install a blue plaque commemorating Graham Chapman, the Monty Python star and co-writer of several iconic sketches, despite Chapman meeting the eligibility criteria for the honor. Chapman, who died in 1989 at the age of 48, is best known for his role as the title character in the 1979 film "Monty Python’s The Life of Brian."

The decision has sparked controversy among Chapman's friends and supporters, who suggest that the charity may be prioritizing the recognition of black and Asian figures as part of a wider effort to diversify the individuals commemorated. John Cleese, Chapman’s fellow Python and writing partner, expressed his puzzlement over the rejection. “It seems that a lot of these quangos have woke inclinations unrepresentative of most British people,” Cleese said, hinting that independent efforts to honor Chapman might be pursued.

English Heritage, which manages the official blue plaques scheme in London, receives approximately 80 nominations each year but selects only a handful for installation. This year it chose nine new plaques, including those dedicated to the acclaimed actor Sir Laurence Olivier and the pioneering astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. Less widely known figures honored this year include Kamal Chunchie, a Sri Lankan-born Methodist pastor involved in racial justice activism in London’s East End during the 1930s and 1940s, and Duse Mohamed Ali, a prominent figure in London’s Pan-Africanism movement.

Chapman’s contributions to comedy include co-writing some of Monty Python’s best-known sketches, such as the Dead Parrot sketch, the Argument Clinic, and Four Yorkshiremen. The title character of "The Life of Brian," a man mistaken for a messiah, remains one of his most memorable roles. The film’s famous line, “He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy,” spoken by Brian’s mother, is often cited as a defining moment in British comedy.

An English Heritage spokesperson stated that Chapman’s nomination was “carefully considered,” noting that the selection process is highly competitive each year, with many exceptional candidates in contention. Sir Michael Palin, another Python member, remarked that Chapman—who had given up drinking in 1977—would likely have appreciated the unofficial plaque installed in his honor in 2012 on the side of the Angel pub in Highgate, north London. “Graham would be very tickled,” Palin observed.