Comic pulls trip down under on doctors' orders

Eric Idle has cancelled a book tour of Australia and New Zealand because of ill health.

The 83-year-old Monty Python star recently published his book Idle In Provence: A Brief History Of Thyme, and toured Britain to promote it last month.

But now the comic has had to cancel a planned visit down under, saying: ‘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.’

Four years ago, Idle revealed he had got the all-clear from pancreatic cancer, having been told early diagnosis saved his life 

The Spamalot co-creator has been involved with an ongoing  – and very public – dispute with Python co-star John Cleese over the management of the group’s finances.

Published: 27 Oct 2026