News about John Cleese

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Left-wing playwright David Hare praises the late Queen's private secretary, Lord Fellowes, calling him 'a wholly wonderful man'. They met watching the cricket at Lord's 30 years ago. Fellowes said he admired Hare's plays about national institutions. And if he decided to do one about the Royal Family one day, he'd provide guidance. Why is Hare revealing this now (in The Spectator)? Might he now be thinking of following the late Fellowes' advice?

The rector of Scotland's oldest university has been removed from its governing body after a backlash over her claim that Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Stella Maris was stripped of her powers at St Andrews University over allegations that she had breached her role's responsibilities - and made some students 'fear for their safety'. In an unprecedented move, she will no longer sit as the president of the university's court after she was said to have refused to accept the findings of an independent investigation. But Ms Maris - who was appointed rector in November 2023 - will officially remain in post as rector for another two years - as there is no mechanism to remove her. Previous rectors have included John Cleese and Rudyard Kipling, and the university is alma mater of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

John Cleese has joked he was 'very worried' about the success of the Fawlty Towers stage show because the auditions were 'so awful'. Despite his initial skepticism about revisiting the iconic show, having turned down a musical and TV show, the screenwriter finally accepted an offer in 2015. The actor, 84, appeared on This Morning on Friday alongside actors Adam Jackson-Smith, who plays John's role of Basil, and Paul Nicholas who plays The Major.   

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Royal chronicler Ingrid Seward tells a London literary lunch of King Charles 's schoolboy snoring and how fellow pupils recorded him sending up the Zs. Ingrid, whose late husband Ross was a fellow pupil at Gordonstoun, reveals: 'Charles's bed was by an open window, so the boys above dangled over the window a recording device and recorded him snoring away.

Celebrities across England have shared their support for the Three Lions ahead of their wildly-anticipated Euros final in Berlin, Germany on Sunday evening. Famous faces such as Maureen Lipman, Patrick Stewart and John Cleese voiced their support for Gareth Southgate's England squad this weekend. Sir Patrick Stewart, 84, who is based in Los Angeles, admitted he is anguished that he is so far away from Europe and unable to attend the match in person.

Sir Michael Palin has said there are 'very few' people around who still remember Monty Python.  The actor and comedian, 81, appeared on Monday's Good Morning Britain alongside hosts Susanna Reid and Adil Ray. Sir Michael was part of iconic comedy troupe Monty Python, which formed in 1969 and also consisted of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones. The group is pictured right in The Meaning of Life in 1983.

Sir Michael Palin went back to where it all began on Wednesday as he received an honorary degree from Oxford University . The Monty Python star began writing comedy while enrolled at Oxford's Brasenose College, where he read modern history, in the early 1960s. There, he met Terry Jones, with whom he become a household name after forming the Python comedy troupe alongside John Cleese , Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and Terry Gilliam .

Fawlty Towers - The Play has been such a hit that its run is being extended until at least Christmas. The show, which opened last month at London's Apollo Theatre, is already booking up until September. But sources say that John Cleese, who is an executive producer but does not appear on stage, has been swayed into extending the run further by the exceedingly strong demand, with ticket sales per performance at an astonishing 95 per cent and many shows sold out.

Born in Calcutta, India , he attended boarding school in England before reading PPE at Oxford. Dr Mosley tried his hand working as an investment banker before retraining as a doctor. He studied medicine at the Royal Free Hospital in London before leaving to join the BBC as a trainee assistant producer. Dr Mosley made a string of science and history documentaries over 25 years, rising to become a presenter and an executive producer at the corporation. In his journalistic career he has worked alongside the likes of John Cleese , Jeremy Clarkson , Professor Robert Winston and Sir David Attenborough .

The potty-mouthed Harry Potter actress, 82, has left fans in stitches for years with her swearing-laden stories and jokes, often at her own expense. But while she is famed for making millions cry with laughter, her no-holds-barred assessment of fellow celebrities could be enough to reduce them to tears. During an appearance at Hay Festival on Saturday, Miriam went to town on the subject of celebrities she dislikes - with Lily Allen in the firing line. She has been a regular on the Graham Norton Show sofa over the years - but said that Ms Allen was the only guest she has actively 'disliked', declaring: 'She thought when she was on the programme that it was all about her', adding that she had not been taught how to properly behave. 'Arrogant' Mick Jagger, 'smelly' Leonardo Di Caprio and 'a***hole' John Cleese have also also been on the end of a Margoyles tongue-lashing.

Miriam Margolyes is known for saying exactly what she thinks and isn't afraid to hold back in interviews.  And over the course of her career the comedian and actress has found herself clashing with several high profile celebrities.  From Monty Python star John Cleese to popstar Lily Allen, Miriam hasn't always seen eye to eye with everyone she has encountered. 

The actress, 91, exuded glamour as she stepped out in a beige two-piece suit which she layered over an elegant cream blouse.

The actress, 83, who co-wrote the series with John in 1974, watched her ex-husband and daughter star in the show featuring Torquay's most chaotic hotel from the audience with her partner John Lahr. Connie's marriage to John broke down before the second series aired, and the pair divorced in 1978. She went on to marry her current husband, John Lahr, in 2000, but it took her ex-husband two other marriages until he found his current wife. Unlike John, who maintained a career in the spotlight, Connie said the breakdown of her marriage put her off the industry entirely, leading her to withdraw from all public appearances and switch jobs to become a psychotherapist in north London before retiring. (Pictured from L to R: Connie in Fawlty Towers, Connie with John, Connie visiting the play this week, Connie in 1977, Connie and John in 1975)

Connie, who co-wrote the series with John in 1974, watched the new stage show featuring Torquay's most chaotic hotel from the audience with her partner John Lahr.

The German ambassador to the UK has insisted that his country does find John Cleese's infamous Fawlty Towers episode 'The Germans' funny due to its 'awkwardness'.   Miguel Berger said he 'liked the humour' of the scenes where Cleese's character Basil Fawlty riles German guests by making a number of references to the Second World War.  This is despite the disgruntled hotel owner continually telling staff: 'Don't mention the war.' 

John Cleese was reunited with Monty Python co-stars Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam on Wednesday, and all three were ready for a Spanish inquisition as Fawlty Towers The Play launched in London's West End. Palin and Gilliam were on hand to support their old friend as the beloved show he devised with ex-wife Connie Booth enjoyed a successful press night at the Apollo. But there was no Eric Idle following a dispute with his former co-stars over Monty Python's dwindling fortunes.

Forget the ministry of silly walks, Wednesday was all about the school of satisfied departures following a hugely successful night at London's Apollo Theatre. Former Monty Python legends John Cleese and Terry Gilliam reunited for the eagerly anticipated Fawlty Towers press night as the beloved sitcom - created by Cleese and ex-wife Connie Booth - gets a limited West End run after being redeveloped as a stage play. The comedy icons were on hand to greet fans outside the venue, where celebrity guests gave the critically acclaimed production a thunderous round of applause.

Shamelessly recycled, fifty-year-old comic material it may be. But as shamelessly recycled 50-year-old comic material goes, John Cleese and Connie Booth's stage replica of their classic TV comedy, Fawlty Towers, is still very good fun. It's such a high-quality copy of the 1975 original that if you look closely, you might even find it says 'Made In China ' on the bottom. Fawlty Towers purists will be relieved to learn there is nothing new to see here. Instead, this is a tightly wrought highlights package, distilling the fire drill fiasco, the wall-mounted moose debacle, and the fateful fiver secretly bet on the horse Dragonfly.

John Cleese seemed in good spirits as he cosied up to wife Jennifer at the opening night of Fawlty Towers: The Play at The Apollo Theatre in London on Wednesday.  The actor, 84, who portrayed Basil Fawlty and wrote the original TV series, cut a dapper figure as he posed on the red carpet with his jewellery designer partner Jennifer, 52.  It marked a big night for John, who is reprising his role as Basil, after jokingly revealing he is doing it for the money so that he no longer has to fly economy.

She places a concerned hand on my shoulder, looks deep into my eyes and asks, softly: 'Are you ok?' These are the haunting words of one local resident when I tell her I am staying at the infamous Minster Garth Guest House in the idyllic market town of Beverley, East Yorkshire. The Grade-II listed Georgian property has been dubbed the 'hotel of horrors' by local residents, and reading the reviews on TripAdvisor, it's not difficult to see why.

Situated in the shadow of Beverley's historic Minister church, Mr Hart promised customers luxury stays in his elegant Grade II listed building. But guests posted reviews online, commenting on its appalling conditions and 'rude' boss. Speaking for the first time since being spared jail for using misleading photos to advertise Minister Garth, in East Yorkshire, he said: 'I think it's a compliment because I think he's a wonderful, hilarious man. 'But I don't try to emulate him. I'm my own person, obviously. I can only hold my hands up and apologise in general.'

Michael Palin reunited with his pals and Monty Python co-stars John Cleese and Terry Gilliam as he celebrated his 81st birthday on Thursday. The comedy legend joined his long-time friends John, 84, and Terry, 83, as the trio is known for being part of the iconic comedy troupe formed in 1969 - with also Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, and Terry Jones. The three pals seemed to be having the time of their lives laughing and giggling as they celebrated their friend's special day.

JAN MOIR: Just behind me in row K, a man is watching a football match on his mobile phone. 'Shocking free kick,' he murmurs to his luckless date. If Basil Fawlty were here, and in so many ways he absolutely is, he would surely have something to say about this. He might want to give the bloke a damn good thrashing with the branch of a tree. He might dismiss him as the kind of uncultured riff-raff who believes a Waldorf salad to be the height of civilisation. He might just want to destroy the dolt with the power of his curdled invective. 'Have you seen the people in the Apollo Theatre? They've never even sat on chairs before,' he might screech.

Fawlty Towers star John Cleese has made a shocking statement about the new West End production of the classic 1970s sitcom. Despite his initial skepticism about revisiting the iconic show, having turned down a musical and TV show, the screenwriter finally accepted an offer in 2015. Now, after more than 40 years, Fawlty Towers is set to be revived on stage with John admitting it is not something he is excited about, had it been a new script, but that it is a 'good deal'.