John Cleese and Eric Idle have reignited their feud, with both declaring Monty Python "dead" as a comedy project. The pair traded verbal blows over the weekend, agreeing on little except that the troupe's future is as lifeless as the famous parrot sketch.
The dispute began when Eric Idle, 83, promoting his new book Idle In Provence: A Brief History of Thyme, told fans on X that he had spent five years writing it. He ended his tweet: "Python is dead" and replied "no thanks" when a fan suggested 'one last hurrah' for Python.
Royalties and Business Sense
In an interview with the Telegraph, Idle went further, insisting the other Python members should be grateful for the royalties he earned them from the Spamalot musical. "I think I have more business sense. They're not very good at it, a lot of them," he said.
Responding to a 2024 comment by Cleese that the Pythons never really liked each other, Idle added: "I think it might be what he secretly feels. We've been good friends from time to time. I've things that I'm grateful to him for... seeing I was funny, and putting me in a show. And then being supportive of me many times in his life, and then suddenly deciding… I don't know what happened, I felt it happening during Covid, and I called him up... and then he was getting more and more angry. I don't know. It's like, they all got angry about Spamalot. You go, 'Excuse me, I made you all a million f***ing dollars each… when you've paid that back, we can talk.'"
He also referred to the other living Pythons having "three votes and I have one", meaning they could vote through things they wanted, and he no longer had to have meetings with them.
Cleese's Version of Events
In response, Cleese wrote on X on Saturday afternoon: "A few days ago, Eric Idle asked the other Pythons for a meeting to discuss future projects. Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and I refused, because we are appalled by the way he has been abusing Holly Gilliam since she took over from Jim Beach, after his stroke. Now he's saying we asked him for a meeting and he refused. Not to be trusted these days."
The troupe, known for the BBC sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus, also made classic films such as Life Of Brian and The Holy Grail. They last performed together in 2014 for the stage show Monty Python Live (Mostly) at London's O2, which sold out in minutes and was extended to ten dates. Terry Jones died in 2020; Graham Chapman died in 1989, but his image was used in the show.
Previous Rows and Management Disputes
This is not the first public row between Idle and Cleese. In 2024, they argued over similar subjects, including management of the Python empire. Idle then described Cleese as a bully and said they had not spoken for seven years. He said: "[John] bullied Jonesy. I always felt ashamed we did nothing." He added: "I still love and am proud of what we did as Python. It was a very unique group. I think of us as an ex-Liverpool team. We played together well, way back in the day. But it was never very supportive of people's feelings and emotions. Not brothers. Colleagues."
Idle also criticised Holly Gilliam, who took over the Python brand in 2013 as part of HDG Projects Ltd. He said: "I guess if you put a Gilliam child in as your manager you should not be so surprised. One Gilliam is bad enough. Two can take out any company." He added: "I don't mind, but once they put Gilliam's daughter in as manager and Cleese fires [Python's one-time manager] Jim Beach, well, it's over."
Cleese hit back in 2024, saying: "I have worked with Holly for the last ten years, and I find her very efficient, clear-minded, hard-working, and pleasant to have dealings with." He claimed Michael and Terry shared his opinion.
In May 2024, three of the four living Pythons met for dinner to celebrate Michael Palin's birthday, posing for a photo without Idle, who lives abroad. Cleese captioned it: "An 18 foot Python celebrates Pallin's 181st Birthday and 195th Travel Book. Photo taken at cafe on peak of Mount Kilimanjaro." In September 2024, Cleese denied claims he had sacked Jim Beach, saying Beach resigned after a stroke and Holly Gilliam took over.
Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam have yet to comment this time. In 2025, Palin said Idle could be "catty sometimes" and urged the Pythons to continue to be silly in their Eighties. One thing seems clear: Python is no more; it has ceased to be, expired, and gone to meet its maker.
