'The loudest laughs and the longest ovation' ... Python star taken aback by Empire audience

RYAN PATON ON ERIC IDLE'S LIVERPOOL 'HOMECOMING' GIG

- By RYAN PATON

ERIC Idle tells the Liverpool crowd it's been 52 years since he was last on stage at the Liverpool Empire.

The legendary comedian was back in the theatre on Lime Street on Sunday night for the first time since 1973, when the Monty Python first farewell tour arrived in the city.

The comic was just 30 then and it's fair to say he didn't exactly fade into obscurity after what was billed as the group's farewell to the stage. Eric has went on to lead one of the most remarkable lives in showbiz history and his latest one man musical is a brilliant retrospective of his incredible career.

After changing television comedy forever with Monty Python's Flying Circus, Eric went on to star in some of the most influential comedy films of all time and even penned a Grammy award-winning musical, as well as making some incredibly famous friends along the way.

Eric joked at the start of the show that the evening is going to involve an element of name-dropping.

From partying with Harrison Ford and accidentally spoiling a scene in Empire Strikes Back, to becoming one of George Harrison's closest friends and influencing Elvis, his anecdotes truly hit home just how much you are in the presence of showbiz royalty.

Eric tells the tales with his customary razor sharp wit that meant the audience was laughing along the whole way.