John Cleese 'delighted' as he announces exciting Monty Python return

John Cleese has revealed plans for a nationwide tour marking more than half a century since Monty Python And The Holy Grail first reached cinemas.

The comedy legend, now 86, will travel to 18 venues throughout September, presenting special events combining film screenings with live audience interaction.

Each evening will feature the star personally introducing the beloved 1975 comedy before it plays in full, followed by a 45-minute question-and-answer session where attendees can quiz Mr Cleese directly.

The tour, titled John Cleese And The Holy Grail, promises fans an opportunity to hear the performer discuss the making of the iconic film.

Proceedings commence at Basingstoke Anvil Arts on September 1, with the final date scheduled for Leeds Grand Theatre on September 22.

Along the way, Mr Cleese will appear in Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham, among other cities.

Mr Cleese said: "I'm delighted to be celebrating more than 50 years of Holy Grail with these incredible live events around the country.

"Mainly because I genuinely never expected either the film or myself to last this long."

The comedy, which depicts King Arthur and his knights searching for the Holy Grail, remains among the most quoted films in cinema history.

The promotional material playfully urges fans to "gather your fellow knights, dust off your coconuts" for an evening honouring one of comedy's finest achievements, while noting coconuts are not included with tickets.

Monty Python's Flying Circus debuted on BBC television in 1969.

Its sketches left a lasting mark on comedy, earning the troupe comparisons to The Beatles.

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Beyond The Holy Grail, Mr Cleese appeared alongside fellow Pythons Sir Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Graham Chapman in Life Of Brian (1979) and The Meaning Of Life (1983).

His career also includes the acclaimed 1988 film A Fish Called Wanda, featuring an Oscar-winning performance from Kevin Kline, and the enduringly popular BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.

This latest venture follows a stage adaptation of Fawlty Towers that played London's Apollo Theatre before touring the UK and Ireland.

Mr Cleese has repeatedly pushed back against what he describes as “woke” criticism surrounding the popular comedy.

The 86-year-old previously revealed he was urged to remove the controversial “Loretta” scene from Life Of Brian during discussions about a stage adaptation, amid fears of backlash from the trans community.

However, Mr Cleese insisted he had “no intention” of cutting the scene and argued modern audiences often fail to understand irony and satire.

The comedian has also mocked cancel culture through a series of sarcastic “apologies” for Monty Python sketches, using humour to criticise attempts to judge older comedy by modern standards.

In 2021, he pulled out of a planned appearance at Cambridge Union after an art critic was allegedly banned for impersonating Adolf Hitler.

Mr Cleese jokingly announced he was “blacklisting” himself because he had also performed Hitler impressions during Monty Python sketches.

The comedy veteran has frequently questioned whether politically correct comedy can truly work, famously asking critics: “Can you tell me a woke joke?”

He argues humour naturally relies on tension, surprise and social satire, rather than simply “very nice people being kind to each other.”