Legendary comedian John Cleese, the towering figure behind Monty Python's most iconic characters, has revealed the physical toll ageing has taken on his famously flexible body. The 86-year-old entertainer, known for his absurdist slapstick comedy, admits his agility has largely deserted him as he confronts numerous health challenges in his later years.
A Candid Look at Ageing
In scenes from his forthcoming documentary feature, John Cleese Packs It In, scheduled for release on November 13, the veteran performer provides a remarkably honest account of his medical ailments. The film follows Cleese during his European tour, showing him performing to sold-out crowds while being cared for by an intimate team who cater to his every need, including his confessed addiction to cheese.
His tour was aptly named Last Chance to See Me Before I Die, directly referencing his advanced age and health concerns. During the documentary, Cleese shocks fans by listing his numerous physical issues while discussing his feelings about getting older.
'Getting old is much nicer than young people think,' Cleese surprisingly claims. 'I mean for a start you don't have the energy to get upset so people get the impression you're getting nicer.'
The Reality of Health Challenges
The creator of the legendary Ministry of Silly Walks sketch provided a comprehensive inventory of his medical interventions: 'I've had both of my hips replaced, my right knee, I've had three hair transplants, I don't have a single tooth of my own in my mouth - all came out of an oven.'
He continued with even more recent procedures: 'I had a pacemaker installed a few months ago, I have two artificial lenses in my eyes and I'm considering a penis enlargement.'
One particularly graphic scene in the movie, which will be screened at 500 cinemas nationwide, focuses on a botched operation on his big toe that has made walking uncomfortable. During his European tour, Cleese required a wheelchair for a zoo visit, highlighting the severity of the issue.
The Monty Python star documented his problematic toe throughout various treatment stages, creating what he jokingly calls 'the most photographed big toe in the world.' He explained: 'I had an operation to remove a bone spur six years ago and it hasn't healed since. So if you've just had a mouthful of popcorn look away now.'
Personal Life and Python Reunions
The 80-minute film includes several appearances by Cleese's fourth wife, 52-year-old Jennifer Wade, whom he praises for her sense of humour. He recounts how they first met: passing each other in the street, locking eyes before chatting, and have been together ever since.
The documentary captures Cleese's gruelling schedule as he visits 16 cities across five countries in just six weeks. At a London screening on Tuesday, he displayed his trademark self-deprecating humour: 'For the first time, audiences will see a different side to me - not just the dashing, devil-may-care, devastatingly handsome bon viveur, but also the decrepit, addled, nasty old geriatric that my PR team work day and night to hide from the public.'
The event saw Cleese reunited with Monty Python stars Terry Gilliam and Sir Michael Palin, though Eric Idle was notably absent amid an ongoing dispute about the comedy troupe's financial management. Idle recently revealed he receives only £2,000 per series from the BBC show and has blamed mismanagement for his financial situation.
The screening occurred just eight days after the death of Cleese's Fawlty Towers co-star Prunella Scales at age 93. Cleese paid heartfelt tribute to the actress who played his acid-tongued television wife Sybil Fawlty: 'How very sad. Pru was a really wonderful comic actress. I've recently been watching a number of clips of Fawlty Towers whilst researching a book. Scene after scene she was absolutely perfect. She was a very sweet lady, who spent a lot of her life apologising. I used to tease her about it. I was very, very fond of her.'
