John Cleese

Do ageing rock stars still stick cucumbers down their sprayed-on trousers?

Donald Clarke: From Spinal Tap and Fawlty Towers to Frasier, we will soon be awash in belated revivals

Sat Feb 11 2023 - 05:00

Five ways to ‘flow state’: How to cultivate creativity

From crochet to baking, writing to bricklaying, we all possess the ability to create

Thu Dec 02 2021 - 06:01

John Cleese on ‘woke’ thought: ‘There’s so much I really don’t understand’

Comedian to present Cancel Me, a Channel 4 show about ‘all aspects’ of political correctness

Tue Aug 24 2021 - 11:52

Joanna Scanlan: ‘I felt like an embarrassed child running behind the elite pack’

Actor talks about Footlights, teaching, sage advice from doctor and new film After Love

Sat May 29 2021 - 05:00

Richard Osman: ‘The worst thing in the world is someone telling you they’re writing a novel’

The star of quiz show Pointless on his new novel, being on telly, and why class is crucial

Tue Sept 08 2020 - 05:00

Horse Sense – Frank McNally on the ups and downs of Epsom

Wed Jul 08 2020 - 19:05

John Cleese has a faulty sense of humour about the Irish

The comedian’s mockery of Irish people and names began in 1975 and continued this week

Thu Jul 02 2020 - 13:00

Fawlty Towers ‘Don’t mention the war’ episode pulled from streaming service

BBC-owned UKTV removes John Cleese goose-stepping episode for its ‘racial slurs’

Fri Jun 12 2020 - 08:46

What have the British ever done for us, eh?

Caveat: When Germany and France were trying to bully us over tax affairs, which nation stood beside us? Britain

Fri Jan 31 2020 - 04:47

Terry Jones was the John Lennon of comedy

The Monty Python founder had the idea of dropping punchlines for an absurdist style

Wed Jan 22 2020 - 16:00

Terry Jones, Monty Python star, dies at the age of 77

Actor and comedian, who had dementia, directed Life of Brian, among other films

Wed Jan 22 2020 - 13:21

Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes dies aged 75

Comedian and musician also sang with Beatles parody band The Rutles

Mon Dec 30 2019 - 16:01

Monty Python: BBC archive reveals the secrets behind the sketches

An archive of unearthed material has been released to celebrate 50 years of the comedy troupe

Mon Oct 07 2019 - 10:06

Terry Gilliam: I disagree with John Cleese on Brexit

Director and Monty Python star says Brexit makes him ‘terminally depressed’

Tue Sept 03 2019 - 10:29

Sarajevo Film Festival: A quarter century of big names, tears and awards

From war-zone beginnings, the event is now a cornerstone for the global film industry

Mon Sept 02 2019 - 05:00

‘I wrote a part for my husband. By the time filming was over, so was our marriage’

British writer Emma Forrest on her marriage break up and making her directorial debut with her film Untogether, which stars her ex husband

Wed Jul 10 2019 - 06:30

Monty Python reveal events to mark 50th anniversary

Cast of seminal comedy TV show detail record attempt and special shows to celebrate

Thu Jun 27 2019 - 06:20

Monty Python’s Life of Brian: ‘John Cleese refused to ad-lib. He’s a humour fundamentalist’

Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam: ‘We didn’t ad-lib because Cleese doesn’t like it’

Thu Apr 18 2019 - 06:00

Fawlty Towers named greatest British sitcom of all time

Father Ted, written by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, came second, with I’m Alan Partridge in third

Tue Apr 09 2019 - 08:57

John Cleese: ‘Why don’t you Irish spell your names properly?’

The comedian and actor on his pet hates and staying with the real Basil Fawlty

Thu Jan 10 2019 - 21:10

Elon Musk’s latest big idea: visionary tunnel or over-hyped hole?

Musk foresees networks of city tunnels that autonomous vehicles could join at any point

Wed Dec 19 2018 - 15:00

Camilla Cleese on her dad, John: ‘He’s not my favourite Python!’

The comedian on her reconciliation with her father – and doing jokes about his ex-wives

Thu Aug 16 2018 - 09:10

Unseen Monty Python sketches found in Palin archives

Groundbreaking British comedy group produced their last film 35 years ago

Wed Aug 01 2018 - 08:00

Affluent Fulham hoping their rich vein of form continues

Playoff between Fulham and Aston Villa estimated to be worth €200m to the winner

Sat May 26 2018 - 07:30

Rugby Statistics: Ireland must be zealous in protecting ruck ball

The concession of vital turnovers and penalties proved so costly to England’s hopes

Thu Mar 08 2018 - 07:28

What have US tech giants ever done for us?

Caveat: The Double Irish reinforced the global stereotype of us as whiskey-swilling loons

Fri Dec 22 2017 - 06:00

Edinburgh ‘Sleep in the Park’ seeks £4m to fight homelessness

Bob Geldof offers support as 9,000 people set to sleep outside in freezing conditions

Sat Dec 09 2017 - 20:52

Denis Bradley: There will never again be a border in Ireland

British and Europeans need to know Border not on table

Mon Oct 09 2017 - 01:00

Eddie Izzard: I like to think I kicked the trans door open

The actor knows all about standing up for his principles. Can he take that to Westminster?

Fri Sept 15 2017 - 05:00

Political correctness hasn’t gone mad. It has made us nicer

It’s time to reclaim the phrase that bigots use to criticise tolerant, open-minded discourse

Sat Aug 12 2017 - 06:00

Andrew Sachs death: John Cleese leads tributes to ‘great farceur’

Comedic actor who played Manuel in ‘Fawlty Towers’ dies at London care home aged 86

Fri Dec 02 2016 - 11:34

‘Yes Minister’ co-writer Antony Jay dies aged 86

BBC political satire intrigued civil service with Margaret Thatcher among its fans

Tue Aug 23 2016 - 19:49

‘After Brexit, I have lost some of my understanding of Britain ’

A huge amount of effort is needed to get the terrible genie of hate back into the bottle

Wed Jul 20 2016 - 13:52

Brexit: Remain side holds narrow lead as UK goes to polls

Farage insists Leave camp has a ‘very strong chance’ of pulling off political upheaval

Thu Jun 23 2016 - 19:47