It's NOT a dead parrot! 'Hard-up' Monty Python stars to reform 30 years after they last worked together

Legendary funnymen - all now in their 70s - will put on show together



They are John Cleese, Terrys Gilliam and Jones, Eric Idle and Michael Palin

The Python team last performed together live in 1982

Their last film, Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life, was released in 1983

Details of their show will be revealed at official conference this Thursday

The sixth Python, Graham Chapman, died of cancer aged just 48 in 1989



It has long been known as the Holy Grail of comedy… and the Monty Python stars could barely contain their excitement yesterday as they announced their comeback.

Despite all being in their seventies with a combined age of 357 years, the legendary troupe are getting back on stage together for the first time in 30 years.

John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Michael Palin have all agreed to reunite.

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Getting back together: The five remaining stars of Monty Python (from left: Eric Idle, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Graham Chapman who died in 1989) are to reunite for a show Cult comedy: The group's surreal TV series Monty Python's Flying Circus was first broadcast in 1969

Once the secret was out there yesterday, Idle, 70, posted a giddy Twitter message: 'Python meeting this morning.

'Can't wait. Press conference Thursday will be live.'

Jones, 71, revealed that the ageing comedians hope to boost their bank balances: 'We're getting together and putting on a show – it's real.

'I'm quite excited about it. I hope it makes us a lot of money. I hope to be able to pay off my mortgage!'

And he's not the only one hoping the cash will help. Cleese, 74, has made no secret that despite the phenomenal success his comedic talent has brought him, he has been left crippled financially by a £12.5million divorce.

Earlier this year the stars were also all ordered to pay extra royalties to a former producer after losing a High Court battle over their hit stage show Spamalot.

Comedy veterans: Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, and Terry Jones (left to right) will get back together with John Clees and Eric Idle for the show

A judge ruled that Mark Forstater, a producer of the 1975 film Monty Python And The Holy Grail, was entitled to a seventh of the profits from the spin-off musical, which has grossed well over £100million.

The reunion comes after several failed attempts to reform by the group, which was last seen together in 1983's The Meaning Of Life. However, according to sources, the surviving members realised 'it was now or never'.

It is understood the Pythons will perform live again, with the potential for a film or TV show to follow. But it is unknown if it will be new or old material or both.

More details are due to emerge at a press conference tomorrow, which will take place at The Playhouse Theatre in London's West End where Spamalot is running.

Idle is believed to have had higher earning power in recent years and is now worth an estimated £10million after he co-wrote Spamalot with John Du Prez and paid the other Pythons a fee, estimated to be £1million.

Cleese, who married his fourth wife Jennifer Wade last year, divorced his third, Alyce Faye Eichelberger, in 2008. He launched a stand-up tour called Alimony Tour to help fund the payments.