Dispute between Monty Python members? “We always hated each other”

They celebrated success together with the comedy group Monty Python – but privately, members Eric Idle and John Cleese apparently can’t stand each other.

‘We have always hated and despised each other, but the truth has only recently come to light’ Cleese (84) wrote on Platform X in response to a question about his ex-colleague. The reason was posts by Idle in which he complained about his poor financial situation and blamed the daughter of Monty Python member Terry Gilliam (83).

‘I have to earn a living. Not easy at this age,” 80-year-old Idle emphasized this weekend. He never thought that his income would drop so much that Monty Python would stop making money.

Idle later added that he had not seen Cleese in seven years. “Why? Because it makes me happy.”

Cleese defended Gilliam’s daughter Holly. She has worked very efficiently and hard over the past ten years. Father Terry and former colleague Michael Palin (80) also shared this opinion. However, Cleese confirmed that income from the group’s productions today is significantly lower than often believed. “Remember, we made our TV programs for my favorite charity: the BBC.”wrote Cleese.

He later shared a second tweet criticizing the fact that the PA (Press Association) news agency had completely misinterpreted his statement.

He expected the PA staff to firstly understand the irony and secondly to have a sense of humor.

The public broadcaster broadcast the series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” between 1969 and 1974, which made the group famous. The six comedians achieved world fame with films such as ‘The Knights of the Coconut’ and ‘The Life of Brian’. In addition to Cleese, Idle, Gilliam and Palin, this also included Graham Chapman (1941-1989) and Terry Jones (1942-2020). (saw/sda/dpa)