BBC bosses have no sense of humour, say Python stars

MONTY Python co-stars John Cleese and Eric Idle have accused BBC bosses of ‘screwing up comedy’.

Speaking in Australia, where the stars are touring together, Idle said: ‘BBC executives do not do well with comedy. They can’t understand it and they can’t spot it’.

Cleese added: ‘They spend time talking to other executives about what’s working. It’s like a Martian trying to understand sex.’

Claiming the BBC would not be brave enough to risk using them now, Cleese accused the Corporat i on of having ‘ completely screwed up comedy because it has become a bureaucracy and bureaucrats should not be in charge of comedy.’

He criticised politically correct humour, saying: ‘Political correctness is a bit like granny arriving at a party when you’re having a good time... when she leaves you can all have fun again.

‘Well, a lot of humour is about enjoying life. It’s spontaneity. We’re always teasing each other, but it’s with affection. It’s nasty teasing that we don’t want. There’s certain jokes that are mean and actually not funny.’

The pair blamed their colleague Michael Palin for the Monty Python stage show not making it to Australia.

Idle said: ‘We would have come but unfortunately Michael Palin just came on his own

‘To sell his own book, about his own life. He’s so nice, he just talks about himself, every bloody day. He writes his own bloody diary. What does he find interesting?’

Cleese also ruled out a musical version of Fawlty Towers, saying the smash hit TV series format would not work.

He added: ‘It would slow up too much. That kind of comedy has got to play to the frenetic pace. If you stop for songs, it wouldn’t work.’