John Cleese on Polanski, the coronation, rebooting Fawlty Towers, joining GB News, Putin, the impending apocalypse and the ‘2 or 3 people’ who are funnier than him – a very unguarded interview

Jul 1 , 2023

British comedian John Cleese. Photo: Handout

Over 60 years, the British national treasure revolutionised comedy with Monty Python, starred in Shrek and James Bond films – and after all that, claims he cannot be cancelled

Ahead of his Asia and Australia tour, Cleese opens up about rebooting beloved BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers, acting in Roman Polanski’s The Palace – and why this is the worst era he’s lived through

“Ask me anything,” begins John Cleese, with the warm, knowing smile of someone certain that whatever he’s asked, his interlocutor won’t be short of sound bites 20 minutes later. Indeed, it sometimes seems like the British comedian need only open his mouth for a fresh ripple of indignation-stoking headlines to reverberate across the internet.

In the weeks before we talk alone, Cleese prompted tabloid meltdowns over his decidedly anti-woke decision to ignore a request from the cast to cut a scene mocking a trans female character from an upcoming Life of Brian stage adaptation, and the dubious counter claim that he “can’t be cancelled”. He might never admit it, but given his relentless readiness to drop controversial clangers, one can’t help but think the 83-year-old bard of comedy is privately rather proud of his enduring ability to attract attention. “It’s partly because our media is so unremittingly trivial,” he counters, “and there’s nothing one can do about that.”

British actor John Cleese performs during rehearsals of his one man show titled A Ludicrous Evening with John Cleese … or How to Finance Your Divorce at the Oslo Concert House, in Oslo, Norway, in 2009. Photo: EPA

My favourite recent teacup storm, though, was Cleese’s irreverent commentary on the coronation of King Charles. “I watched for about five seconds and I just started to laugh uncontrollably – and I mean I really laugh, like remember when you were a teenager and you’d just laugh until it hurts?” recalls Cleese, writhing with childlike delight. What he saw was “straight out of a Monty Python” sketch. A scene so ridiculous that he might have dreamed it up himself for the iconoclastic comedy troupe, which redefined the art of making people laugh over four iconic films, released over a dozen years from 1971. “All these people in silly costumes behaving as if something very serious is going on,” he continues. “I just thought it was hilarious.”

Rob Reiner is one of the two or three people who know more about comedy than I do … That’s a very arrogant thing to say

However, it’s the return of Cleese’s other legendary comedy creation that’s prompting the happiest headlines, with plans to revive the beloved Fawlty Towers sitcom – some 44 years after Cleese last appeared as the iconic grump Basil Fawlty. But why now? “They asked if we could do it, and I gave the answer I’ve been giving for 40 years,” says Cleese, “which is that I don’t really see how it could possibly be a success.” However, wined and dined by a US producer, his mind was changed over the course of a single dinner. Cleese and his daughter Camilla have signed on to co-write the reboot – although he’s quick to pour cold water all over it. At present, there is no script, no concept, no location, and no characters apart from Basil. Cleese’s first wife, co-writer and co-star Connie Booth, is notably not involved. It will “probably be set in the Caribbean”, he concedes.

The cast of Fawlty Towers, including John Cleese (top) and Connie Booth (seated, centre). Photo: Handout

“We don’t have an idea yet – we have half an idea,” Cleese continues. “The trouble is one of the producers wanted to promote himself a little bit and sent out a press release without warning anyone, and suddenly everyone got excited over something that hardly exists.”

The excitement is understandable though – the show will unite Cleese with Rob Reiner, the American director behind legendary music mockumentary This is Spinal Tap, whom Cleese regards as among the “only two or three people who know more about comedy” than him. “That’s a very arrogant thing to say,” he admits unapologetically. (Later, when pushed, he adds Steve Martin, Eddie Izzard aka Suzy Izzard, and Frank Oz to that list.)