Sick Terry can only talk in hugs

Michael Palin says he and fellow Monty Python star Terry Jones communicate through “looks and hugs” because dementia has claimed his friend’s speech.

The documentary maker regularly meets up with Terry for a walk and pub lunch.

But he said their jaunts on London’s Hampstead Heath leave him feeling sad.

Michael, 74, said: “The thing about this particular form of Alzheimer’s – frontal temporal dementia – is that it affects your powers of speech.

“So Terry, who always had things to say as you know – full of life and ideas and wonderful dreams, and a good historian, too – none of that he can do now and that’s really, really sad.

“So it’s not the kind of dementia where you are talking and not making sense, it’s dementia where you’re not talking at all and that really is difficult.

“So when I am with Terry, we communicate through looks and hugs and he still recognises me and that wi l l be a sad day when he doesn’t and our little connection is gone.”

Michael and Terry were members of the famous comedy group, which also included John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman, and have been close pals and workmates for more than 50 years.

Asked about his own health, Michael said: “I feel pretty energetic. Some things take a little bit more time, like doing up my cuffs.”