Eric Idle Claims That He Was Never Friends with the Other Members of Monty Python

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about the interpersonal conflicts within Monty Python, even despite the fact that they haven’t performed as a group in 10 years, two of them are dead and the surviving members are old enough to join up with Hell’s Grannies. 

It all started with a back-and-forth social media feud between John Cleese and Eric Idle, which led to Cleese stating that they have “always loathed and despised each other.” While he later claimed to be joking, Cleese, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam then celebrated Palin’s 81st birthday without Idle (who, to be fair, lives in Los Angeles). This was soon followed by Cleese randomly calling Palin “boring,” forcing Palin to defend himself on national television.

All of which seems like a lot of drama for four octogenarians.

While promoting his Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Live! Tour, Idle was asked by Now to Love about his friendship with his fellow Pythons. And his answer, somewhat depressingly, is that they were never friends to begin with.

Idle revealed that the new show will feature tributes to two of his very good friends who are no longer with us: Robin Williams and George “I mortgaged my house to pay for your movie” Harrison. “I miss them both every day,” Idle declared. “George was hilarious, and Robin was a genius. With both of them, it was love at first sight.”

But when asked about the rest of Monty Python, Idle was a tad less affectionate. “I’ve known them for over 60 years, but time passes,” Idle stated. “I haven’t seen them for almost 10 years. And we weren’t friends, we were colleagues. I think we worked together very well, and stayed together for a remarkably long time.” 

Oh.

Obviously not everyone becomes the best of chums with their co-workers, but still, the idea that Idle wasn’t friends with the other members of Monty Python is a tad upsetting to hear. But it does make sense considering the troupe’s workflow. Palin and Terry Jones worked together as a writing team, but Cleese partnered with Graham Chapman, and Idle wrote alone. 

That said, other members of the group clearly did form lasting bonds beyond simply being colleagues. Case in point: Palin called Jones “the most wonderful friend” following his passing in 2020. 

And Cleese once said of Palin: “I was always a natural friend of Michael Palin’s, and he and I would have been friends anyway.” Cleese also gave a very memorable eulogy at Chapman’s funeral.

Idle also noted, “I think it’s remarkable that the work we did has lasted for so long, but comedy isn’t supposed to survive – it’s about the moment.” Meaning that no one should be holding their breath for another Monty Python reunion.

Unless you count social media arguments as a “reunion.”

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time you’re reading this).