John Cleese mocked after asking BBC why Monty Python hasn't aired for 'over a decade'
John Cleese has faced a fair old roasting after asking the BBC why Monty Python hasn't aired for 'over a decade'.
The 83-year-old comedian and original member of the British comedy troupe took to Twitter yesterday (27 December) to make the complaint.
He wrote: "Can anyone (including BBC employees) tell me why the BBC has not shown Monty Python for a couple of decades?"
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For some that might seem like a fair question, as there's no denying the influence the group has had on modern comedy.
That being said, although it was once seen as the top range of surrealist British humour, some suggest it has since aged badly, with The Guardian writing back in 2018 that it was time to 'move on'.
Cleese was one of six members of the group, alongside Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.
The comedy sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus first aired on the BBC back in 1969 before branching out into stage shows, musicals, albums, books and, of course, movies such as The Holy Grail and Life of Brian.
But there's one main problem with Cleese's tweet - he appears to have forgotten the fact that the licensing rights to the show and its property were sold to Netflix several years back.
Let's just say people didn't go easy on the actor, who has been involved in a number of controversies in recent years.
Underneath the post, one person wrote: "Can anyone tell me how John Cleese (including his accountant or agent) doesn’t know that the BBC showed Monty Python back in 2019 for the 50th anniversary and then Netflix bought the rights to show it in the UK?"
Another said: "You know why though John, they don't own the broadcasting rights do they!
"Can you tell us why you're asking a question in very bad faith? Is it because you want attention again?
"Do us all a favour and be quiet mate."
A third chimed in: "You decided to give the exclusive rights to Netflix, you faded light bulb.
"Please try performing something actually funny since the 1980s and you might get a better deal. Fierce Creatures wasn't it."
A number of people in the media joined the conversation too, including fellow comedian Sooz Kempner who said: "Coz the BBC sold the license for the show to Netflix. I don't work for the BBC but it's pretty easy to find out, John."
Meanwhile, writer Dave Vetter simply wrote: "The BBC doesn't currently own the rights and would be sued." Doesn't get much clearer than that.
Not everyone was against Cleese, however, with some people sharing support for the comedy franchise.
"I miss BBC when they had great programming like Monty Python, but these days that humor might be a bit two high-browed," said one.
LADbible has contacted a rep for John Cleese for comment.
Topics: TV and Film, BBC, Netflix, Twitter
Daisy Phillipson