John Cleese: Eric and I have always loathed each other

Star blasts Idle in Python cash woes row

- Naomi Clarke

JOHN Cleese has hit back at his former Monty Python co-star Eric Idle, after Idle criticised the group's management over its financial difficulties, saying: "We always loathed and despised each other."

Idle, 80, blamed manager Holly Gilliam, daughter of Python cofounder Terry Gilliam, for the dwindling coffers of the comedy troupe, which was formed in 1969.

In a post on X, he wrote: "We own everything we ever made in Python and I never dreamed that at this age the income streams would tail off so disastrously.

"But I guess if you put a Gilliam child in as your manager you should not be so surprised.