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John Cleese was hit with a deluge of criticism online after accusing London of not being an “English city any more”.

The 79-year-old Monty Pyton star, who revealed last year that he was moving to the Caribbean island of Nevis, made the comments on Twitter.

Cleese, who said before the EU referendum that he planned to vote for Brexit, also appeared to criticise Londoners for voting remain.

He posted to his 5.6 million followers: “Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more.

“Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation

“So there must be some truth in it...

“I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the EU.”

He later hit back at criticism in a series of tweets writing: "I suspect I should apologise for my affection for the Englishness of my upbringing, but in some ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, less tabloid, and less money-oriented than the one that is replacing it."

He also denied his comments about London being "not an English city" had a racial element.

Cleese replied to one Twitter user who asked if his claims were about race: "No. Why do you try to discredit me for criticising things I have not said Keep your projections to yourself."

He added to another: "If you would like to ask the many foreign friends who have made this observation me, I can put you in touch with them."

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan responded in a tweet: "These comments make John Cleese sound like he’s in character as Basil Fawlty.

"Londoners know that our diversity is our greatest strength. We are proudly the English capital, a European city and a global hub."

Fawlty Towers actor Cleese put his Grade II-listed house near Bath on the market for £2.7 million last year, and reportedly planned to sell his one bedroom flat off Sloane Square after revealing he was “going to buzz off in November”.

“John Cleese is in the process of moving to Nevis, in the Caribbean," said writer Caitlin Moran.

"I hope there's a old Nevisian comedian ready to moan about how Charlestown won't "really be a Nevisian town any more." Goddamn immigrants.”

Comedy writer James Felton wrote: “Hi I'm John Cleese. Today I'll be complaining there are too many immigrants in London from my home where I live in the Caribbean.”

"To be fair, John Cleese has as much right to express his opinion of London as any other elderly white millionaire living in the Caribbean," added actor and writer Paul B. Davies.

Others accused Cleese of being a “bigot”.

Journalist Jon Stone said: “The only thing damaging British culture here is John Cleese turning out to be a bigot and thus spoiling the enjoyment of his back-catalogue.”

Others went so far as to accuse the actor of racism.

Times columnist David Aaronovich pointed out: "London has long been a British city, John. Which you might expect, what with it being the capital."

Another Twitter user added: “London is an amazing city, and it’s packed-full of people from all over the world, so perhaps that amazingness is a result of that same multiculturalism?

“Anyway, to me London seems very English, and I only wish that more of England was as English as London - open, fun, diverse.”