Eric Idle has revealed there is a rift in the Monty Python company and confessed the show was a financial “disaster”.
The comedian, 80, is co-creator of the iconic show and has starred in several spin-off films, including Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.
Monty Python was a British comedy group formed in 1969 and consisted of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Eric.
And now, Eric has explained that he is struggling financially and has been forced to sell his house and continue working long after retirement age.
He took aim at Holly Gilliam, the TV lawyer daughter of fellow Python Terry Gilliam, on social media.
Eric Idle has revealed that there is a rift in the Monty Python company and confessed that the show was a financial “disaster”
The comedian, 80, is co-creator of the iconic show and starred in its various spin-off films, including Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life.
He took over the Python brand in 2013 as part of HDG Projects Ltd, and iIn a new tweet, Eric wrote: ‘I don’t know why people always assume we’re loaded.
‘I have to work to earn a living. I never imagined that at this age income streams would decline so disastrously. I’ve been working and making money for Pythons since 1995. And now I’m not anymore.’
In a swipe at Holly, he continued: “I guess if you put a Gilliam kid as your manager you shouldn’t be so surprised.” One Gilliam is bad enough. Two can destroy any company.
Eric’s daughter Lily publicly supported her father, writing on X: “I’m so proud of my dad for finally starting to share the truth.”
“He has always stood up to bullies and narcissists and absolutely deserves reassurance and validation for doing so.”
The group rose to fame from the comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which aired on the BBC from 1969 to 1974.
Last year, Eric denied any involvement in an upcoming stage production of Monty Python’s Life Of Brian.
He contradicted reports that he is collaborating with John Cleese on a reworking of the 1979 comedy.
Idle distanced himself from the project after sharing a tweet from the British Comedy Guide which read: ‘The stage version of Monty Python’s Life Of Brian will be released in London in 2024, John Cleese has confirmed. He and Idle have made changes; for example, there will be no crucifixion scene.
Eric has explained that he is experiencing financial difficulties and has been forced to sell his house and continue working long after retirement age.
He took aim at Holly Gilliam, the TV lawyer daughter of fellow Python Terry Gilliam, on social media.
Eric’s daughter Lily publicly supported her father, writing on X: “I’m so proud of my dad for finally starting to share the truth.”
He replied: ‘I have nothing to do with this production or adaptation. Apparently Cleese has cut the song. Of course.’
Idle was referring to his song Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life that plays during the crucifixion.
The famous scene has reportedly been cut from the upcoming production.
Fans were quick to question whether the relationship between Idle and Cleese had soured. In response to one person, Idle simply tweeted: “I haven’t seen John since the last day of our US tour in New Orleans 2016.”
Another tweet said: ‘I have no problems with Pythons. I think they are business fools, but I give my opinion and walk away. What can I do but that? Give me a break.’
Last week it was reported that Cleese and Idle, who recently overcame pancreatic cancer, had been “working on new scenes and storylines for a blockbuster show.”
Cleese, 83, who is working on the project with veteran stage director Caroline Ranger, said: “I think Life Of Brian is our best film.
“We’re going to do it in London in the second half of next year and I’ve changed certain things.”
He told the audience on his one-man show that he had to cut a scene in which a male character reveals she wants to be known as ‘Loretta.’
Recalling a full reading, he said: “At the end, I said to the American actors, ‘What do you think?’ And they said, ‘We love the script, but you can’t do those things about Loretta these days.’
“So here you have something that there’s never been a complaint about in 40 years, that I’ve heard of, and now all of a sudden we can’t do it because it would offend people.”
‘What are we supposed to do with that? But I think there were a lot of things that, in some strange way, predicted what was really going to happen later.
Monty Python was a British comedy group formed in 1969 and consisted of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Eric.
Cleese, who joined GB News, has spoken out openly against “cancel culture” in recent years, in contrast to Idle, who revealed that he finds it difficult to be “understanding” with those who complain when his jokes go unnoticed. They are well received.
“You shouldn’t complain about the viewership,” he told the On With Kara Swisher podcast in November. ‘There’s nothing wrong with the audience. If they don’t laugh at your jokes, there is something wrong with your joke.
“And so… I’m not very sympathetic to that kind of attitude, to be honest.”
Life Of Brian was written by the founding members of the comedy troupe Monty Python, Cleese, Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.
He was banned in some areas for blasphemy and faced accusations of mocking Jesus.
Idle previously wrote the Tony Award-winning musical Spamalot. Based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.