Eric Idle Says Reading About John Cleese Is Bad for His Health

Monty Python legend Eric Idle is an 82-year-old cancer survivor — so naturally he has to look out for his health. And according to Idle, that now means avoiding engaging with, or reading about longtime frenemy John Cleese.

The two octogenarians have made headlines for their recent social media spats, but the antagonism didn’t stop there. It seems as though every surviving member of Monty Python has dunked on other members of the troupe in at least one recent interview — except for Terry Gilliam who has been too busy complaining that Donald Trump ruined his anti-woke movies.

Recently, Idle sat down with NME, which asked the Rutles star about the possibility of a future Python project. As the music magazine pointed out, Oasis is touring this year, which could perhaps pave the way for another unlikely reunion between people who hate each other only slightly less than they love money?

Idle noted that their 2014 reunion, Monty Python Live (Mostly) happened “just in time,” because the late Terry Jones, who was eventually diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, “was having difficulty remembering things and his mind was going.”

But he doesn’t seem to be interested in collaborating with the other former Pythons ever again. “I don’t think this lot will get together and be funny. I don’t think it’s possible. If I’m going to be funny, I want to be funny with new or different people or jam with other wonderful musicians,” he revealed.

When asked about the current state of his relationship with Michael Palin, Cleese and Gilliam, Idle didn’t hold back. “I would say from poor to terrible,” he admitted. “They don’t talk to me. I haven’t seen them for 10 years so it doesn’t really matter. Apparently they say rude and nasty things, but I don’t read them. I survived cancer. Every day is a gift, and I’m not going to waste my time bickering with people who have things to say that I don’t read.”

“I’d say it’s a spat, but I’m not doing any spatting,” he added. “And if I have to turn any more cheeks, my pants will fall down! I move on. If you get old and bitter, that’s bad. You have to get older and better. Why waste your life grumbling and complaining? I try and rise below it.”

Idle continued to not hold back when asked about Cleese’s past complaints about a nonexistent controversy surrounding his yet-to-be-performed Life of Brian stage show. “No change there — he complains all the fucking time!” Idle responded. “He has no idea what he’s doing. After Spamalot, (composer) John Du Prez and I wrote a musical version of Life of Brian and we had Mike Nichols directing it — but John vetoed it. I have no idea what he is doing and not much interest. I don’t read what he says ‘cause it’s unhealthy. I’m sure it will be a terrific success though.”

To be fair, according to Palin’s diaries, all of the Pythons were “wary” about Idle turning Brian into a musical. In fact, Cleese was allegedly the only one who was open to the idea, but only if he was allowed to co-write it.

Still, Idle may be right about avoiding any Cleese-based online content for his own well-being.