Matt Berry and Peter Capaldi read a FIERY letter exchange

Possibly one of our favourite letter exchanges ever, and at London's Freemasons' Hall back in 2016 Matt Berry and Peter Capaldi joined us to give an incredible, hilarious reading.

In 1675, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire instructed his army to attack a fortress belonging to the Zaporozhian Cossacks. They were quickly and heavily defeated. Rather than surrender, the Sultan then wrote to the Cossacks and demanded that they submit to him. This fiery exchange was the result.

[SteveOnotsky]

"You can't slay a hedgehog with your naked arse" is my new favourite insult.

[DonnaLangrockglobally]

Who else wants to see Peter Capaldi make an appearance on "What We Do In The Shadows"? The world needs more scenes featuring Matt Berry and Peter Capaldi.

[BBBness]

I love how Capaldi is showing amused contempt before he even starts reading and Berry is just standing there like "I don't remember seeing half of that in the script".

[montgoja]

In case you ever thought the comversations in Monty Python and the Holy Grail were too silly to be realistic...

[syberbeynon]

Capaldi's accent is perfect for that stream of insults.

[PaidInBoredom]

This just proves there needs to be a buddy comedy with Matt Berry and Peter Capaldi.

[franticranter]

"You can't slay a hedgehog with your naked arse" sounds straight out of the thick of it

[ellisr.kinnear]

Peter Capaldi is one of those actors who just seems to understand how everything should be delivered. It's insane he's routinely an unintentional scene stealer

[raskolnikov]

Matt Berry had a letter only he could read with such magnitude and seriousness. Matt Berry could converse with “gods.” Capaldi was also perfect for the more vulgar. They were perfect.

[patperrier]

The look Peter Capaldi gives Matt Berry before letting loose.... Priceless. Capaldi was BORN to read the more profane letter.

[noeldown]

The opening of this letter is unmistakable - you know exactly which exchange this is going to be from the first sentence, without reading the description. Kudos to the translator too - they perfectly translated not just the words, but the spirit of both letters. And, of course, Berry and Capaldi are brilliant.

[plantpowered]

Well, as being from Zaporizzhya, this letter is a part of the school curriculum with some swearing removed. But it is a special treat to hear it being read by The Doctor ))❤

[streetmagic]

This is why you don’t argue with Scot’s, we take insults very seriously

[midnightmosesuk]

This is a big favourite of mine, the letter never fails to make me laugh. By all accounts the writing was a team effort with the Zaprozhian Cossacks trying to outdo each other with suggestions for insults. I can imagine them all laughing their heads off each time someone came up with a new one.

[ValeBridges]

2:12 I love this little glance. It's as if to indicate that the Sultan is getting upset and looking for a ref to step in, because things are getting too heated for him to handle.

[QemeH]

There is a famous painting that alledges to document the meeting where the reply letter was drafted. It shows all the leaders of the Cossacks huddled around the one penning the letter, some bent over with laughter, some suggesting new insults with an evil grin, but all having the time of their life. It is simpy called _Zaporozhian Cossacks write to the Sultan of Turkey_ and is one of the funniest painting out there (if you know this backstory).

[marcweiss]

That correspondence has since been the model for most contract negotiations and divorce settlements.

[Citizen_J]

Berry's opening was so strong, you could see Capaldi switch gears in real time. Loved it!

[HeatyFrog]

The real genius of this is the reaction of whichever one isn't talking

[roboticbrain]

Someone needs to put these two in a odd couple buddy show together immediately