Monty Python legend Eric Idle has abruptly withdrawn from an upcoming tour because of health concerns, four years after revealing that an early pancreatic cancer diagnosis had saved his life.
The 83-year-old comedian, who lives in California, recently toured Britain while promoting his latest book, Idle in Provence: A Brief History Of Thyme. He has now cancelled his scheduled appearances in Australia and New Zealand.
In a statement, Eric said: ‘It is with great regret that, on the advice of my doctors, I must withdraw from my planned An Evening of Idle Conversation tour of Australia and New Zealand.’
‘This isn’t a decision I take lightly, but when the doctors talk, I must listen,’ he added.
The announcement comes several years after Idle disclosed that he had been given the all-clear following a private battle with pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease.
His cancer was discovered at an unusually early stage after a friend he was visiting in the United States encouraged him to take part in a series of tests supporting a doctor’s research into preventative medicine.
Monty Python star Eric Idle, who was told in 2022 that an early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer had saved his life, has suddenly cancelled a forthcoming tour because of ill health
That same friend delivered the diagnosis and explained that, because the cancer had been detected so early, surgery offered a strong chance of removing it.
Speaking previously to The Guardian, Idle said he did not initially react with tears or shock. ‘I didn’t cry till I knew I was going to live. I just got on with it. I’m British! You try not to show emotions in the face of danger,’ he recalled.
He told his wife of 45 years, Tania, along with their children Carey, 53, and Lily, 36. However, he kept the diagnosis from his wider circle of friends until he knew he was clear, hoping to protect them from unnecessary worry.
Idle said there was little time to process the news: just 10 days after being diagnosed, he was in hospital for surgery. Following a five-hour operation, doctors successfully removed the cancer intact.
He kept the illness private for three years and underwent tests twice a year before finally receiving the all-clear.
The health update follows remarks Idle made last month, when he described fellow Monty Python performer John Cleese as ‘a grumpy old man’ while discussing the reality of still working at 83.
The comedian isn’t on speaking terms with his Python co-stars amid a bitter dispute over the management of the group’s finances.
Cleese, 87, accused Idle of ‘bullying’ last September. His comments came after Idle criticised Python manager Holly Gilliam, daughter of the late Terry Gilliam, over alleged financial mismanagement and claimed she was the reason he had to keep working into his eighties.
Last month, Eric branded his Monty Python co-star John Cleese ‘a grumpy old man’ as he bemoaned about still having to work aged 83 (Eric in Monty Python with Michael Palin)
Eric has insisted he won’t be joining his co-stars in a planned tour later this year and called Cleese ‘a grumpy old man’ (Cleese pictured in June 2026)
Idle has also made clear that he will not join Cleese, Holly Gilliam and Michael Palin for a planned Monty Python tour later this year.
‘Look, I haven’t seen any of them for ten years and we are at an inflection point business-wise,’ he said. ‘There’ll be a meeting soon so I won’t comment. I don’t want to be the one carping in the corner.’
‘I love working but it’s f***ing tiring at my age,’ he added.
During the interview with The Sunday Times, Eric took particular aim at John, criticising his politics and his recent backing of the Restore leader, Rupert Lowe.
‘Age is a difficult thing,’ Eric said. ‘I say you either become old and better, or old and bitter. You know, we worked together for years and John was funny. He’s probably still funny. You don’t lose funny, or do you?’
Referring to John’s famous Basil Fawlty character, Idle added that ‘a young man parroting an old man being grumpy is funny. But just turning into a grumpy old man, that’s less funny, isn’t it?’
Eric, who is currently promoting his memoir, also took aim at the business affairs of the Python cast, insisting it ‘is still a mess’.
He added that YouTube airing Python sketches for free is ‘just stealing’, and ‘that’s how these tech guys become billionaires while I’m still f***ing working at 83. What about my family?’
Eric publicly criticised the Pythons’ manager Holly, who took over the Python brand in 2013 as part of HDG Projects Ltd, in a 2024 social media rant.
He said on Twitter: ‘I don’t know why people always assume we’re loaded.
‘I have to work for my living. I never dreamed that at this age the income streams would tail off so disastrously. I have been working and earning for Pythons since 1995. And now no more.’
