Eric Idle has reignited his long-standing feud with Monty Python co-star John Cleese, labeling him a "grumpy old man" in a recent interview. Idle, 83, also voiced his weariness with still having to work at his age, attributing this necessity to financial disagreements within the comedy group.
Idle is not currently on speaking terms with his former colleagues, citing a bitter falling out over the management of the group's finances. This comes after Cleese, 86, publicly criticized Idle last September, accusing him of "bullying." Idle, in turn, had previously criticized the Pythons' manager, Holly Gilliam, daughter of the late Terry Gilliam, for alleged mismanagement, suggesting she is the reason he continues to work.
In the interview with The Sunday Times, Idle stated he will not participate in a planned tour later this year with Cleese, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam. "Look, I haven't seen any of them for ten years and we are at an inflection point business-wise," Idle said. "There'll be a meeting soon so I won't comment. I don't want to be the one carping in the corner. I love working but it's f***ing tiring at my age."
Idle also took aim at Cleese's political views and his recent support for Rupert Lowe, a leader of the Restore political movement. "Age is a difficult thing," Idle remarked. "I say you either become old and better, or old and bitter. You know, we worked together for years and John was funny. He's probably still funny. You don't lose funny, or do you?"
He drew a parallel to Cleese's character Basil Fawlty, adding, "a young man parroting an old man being grumpy is funny. But just turning into a grumpy old man, that's less funny, isn't it?"
The comedian, who is promoting his memoir, also criticized the financial state of the Python enterprise, calling it "still a mess." He expressed dismay that YouTube airs Python sketches for free, labeling it "stealing" and questioning why tech entrepreneurs become billionaires while he is still working at 83. "What about my family?" he asked.
Idle had previously voiced his criticisms of Holly Gilliam on social media in 2024. He tweeted at the time, "I don't know why people always assume we're loaded. I have to work for my living. I never dreamed that at this age the income streams would tail off so disastrously. I have been working and earning for Pythons since 1995. And now no more."
He also made a pointed remark about Gilliam's management: "I guess if you put a Gilliam child in as your manager you should not be so surprised. One Gilliam is bad enough. Two can take out any company."
Cleese has historically defended Gilliam, stating in the past, "I want to make it clear that Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and I are totally satisfied with Holly's work." He added, "He has bullied her for several years, and we all think it's shameful."
Last year, Idle also criticized his former co-stars for their perceived ingratitude regarding millions earned from royalties. He told The Guardian, "They got more fing money than they've ever been grateful for. They got f*** millions and they’re miserable and horrible and b****y about it."
Idle recounted his extensive involvement with Python productions, noting, "I spent 20 years working for Python and then two years on the O2 show. They were there for two weeks." He emphasized his lack of primary motivation by money, explaining that "the producers get all the f***ing money and divide it up according to the contract."
Reflecting on the group's dynamic, Idle mentioned that they would often "fight and argue," which he believed was beneficial to their work. "Some things in Python were very enjoyable and some were not," he shared. "Holy Grail was cold and miserable. Sometimes that makes it funny. One of the worst things you can have in comedy is enough money."
Cleese announced in June the possibility of another revival, excluding Idle. The troupe's 2014 shows, which included the late Terry Jones, were widely considered their final performance. Cleese has reportedly stated that he, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam are considering performing together again in late 2026.
