Comedian, writer, musician and actor Eric Idle talks to John Wilson about his creative influences. A founding member of the Monty Python comedy troupe, he wrote and performed across their four television series, and films including The Life Of Brian and The Meaning Of Life. As a songwriter, he was responsible for much of the Python’s musical comedy, including Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life and The Galaxy Song. He created the comedy series Rutland Weekend Television and the Beatles parody band The Rutles which toured and released albums. In 2005 Eric Idle created the Tony Award winning musical Spamalot, based on the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail which, for over 20 years, has run twice in London’s West End and on Broadway, and has been staged in 14 countries around the world.

Producer: Edwina Pitman

Archive used:
Morecambe and Wise on stage, BBC archive
One Leg Too Few, Beyond the Fringe, 1960
T.V.P.M., Beyond the Fringe, 1960
Sitting on the Bench, Beyond the Fringe, 1960
Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Do Not Adjust Your Set, Thames Television, 1967
Monty Python's Flying Circus, Series 1, BBC 1, 1969
The Rutles, Rutland Weekend Television, BBC2, 1975
The Mikado, ENO, Jonathan Miller, 1987
Imagine, BBC1, 2014