Monty Python's Eric Idle blasts 'ungrateful' co-stars for being 'miserable' making 'f***ing millions' from royalty payments - after declaring he was forced to sell his house and work past retirement age

Daily Mail​

11-07-2025

Monty Python star Eric Idle has blasted his former co-stars for being so 'ungrateful' over the millions they made in royalty payments.
The 82-year-old comedian, who famously wrote stage show Spamalot, has spoken out about how he thinks surviving members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin should be more 'grateful' for the money they continue to receive from the production.
It comes after back in February, Eric revealed there was a rift in the Monty Python troupe and confessed the show was a financial 'disaster'.
They were all part of the comedy troupe where they came to prominence in the BBC show Monty Python's Flying Circus, which aired from 1969 to 1974.
He told The Guardian newspaper: 'They got more f***ing money than they've ever been grateful for. They got f****** millions and they're miserable and horrible and b****y about it.'
Adding to his frustration, Eric continued: 'I spent 20 years working for Python and then two years on the O2 show. They were there for two weeks.
'I'm not really motivated by money, to be honest. Anyway, the producers get all the f***ing money and divide it up according to the contract.'
'Someone sued us for years, saying I was paying the Pythons money from my back pocket. And I said: why would I risk going to an American jail to give John Cleese more money?'
Eric also added that the group would often 'fight and argue' but he thinks it was good for 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.'
'Python was quite a lot of arguing and fights and good work is often like that. The best thing about showbiz is when it's over. I think if you're enjoying yourself, then you're not acting or giving, you're just having a good time. Well, that's not funny.'
The actor then went on to say he 'doesn't trust' AI and that it 'worries' him, including the likes of ChatGPT.
Eric added: 'I don't trust AI. I mean, look at how many times you have to correct a word. It completely misreads you. ChatGPT writing essays really bothers me. The point is to find out what we think, not what a machine thinks.'
Earlier this year, Eric revealed there was a rift in the Monty Python troupe.
He explained that he's struggling financially and was forced to sell his house and continue working well past retirement age.
He took aim at Holly Gilliam, the TV lawyer daughter of fellow Python Terry Gilliam, on social media.
She took over the Python brand in 2013 as part of HDG Projects Ltd, and in a new tweet Eric wrote: '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.'
In a dig at Holly, he continued: '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.'
Eric's daughter Lily publicly stood by her father by penning on X: 'I'm so proud of my dad for finally finally finally starting to share the truth.
'He has always stood up to bullies and narcissists and absolutely deserves reassurance and validation for doing so.'
His co-star John seemingly hit back with the backing of Holly.
Cleese said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: 'I have worked with Holly for the last ten years, and I find her very efficient, clear-minded, hard- working, and pleasant to have dealings with.'
He continued: 'Michael Palin has asked me to to make it clear that he shares this opinion. Terry Gilliam is also in agreement with this.'