Acclaimed actor and comedian John Cleese is set to appear in a revealing new documentary film chronicling his European tour, offering fans a unique and candid look at his life on the road. The documentary, titled John Cleese Packs It In, promises to showcase a side of Cleese that audiences have never seen before.
At 85 years old, Cleese—best known for his groundbreaking work with Monty Python and the beloved BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers—will take viewers behind the curtain during his grueling 23-show tour across 16 cities in six weeks. This journey may well mark his final tour in Europe.
Reflecting on the experience, Cleese humorously describes the film as showing not only the charismatic and witty performer fans recognize but also the “decrepit, addled, nasty old geriatric” that his PR team tries to keep hidden. He jokes about the challenges of performing at his age, admitting that audiences might be “disappointed they’ve wasted their hard-earned cash on over-priced tickets,” but assures that the film is both shocking and hilarious, as viewers laugh not with him, but at him.
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Spanning 90 minutes, the documentary delves into Cleese’s reflections on his extensive career, his experience with fame, and the realities of aging while remaining in the public eye.
Starting his career over six decades ago, Cleese co-founded the legendary comedy troupe Monty Python alongside Sir Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and the late Graham Chapman. The group gained worldwide fame with the surreal sketch series Monty Python’s Flying Circus and feature films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life.
Beyond Monty Python, Cleese co-wrote and starred in the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers, which aired in 1975 and 1979. The show, celebrated as the greatest British sitcom in a 2019 Radio Times poll, centered on the misadventures of Basil Fawlty—a highly strung hotelier—and his wife Sybil as they navigated the challenges of running a seaside hotel. Half a century later, the show’s episodes were adapted for London’s West End, starring Cleese himself.
Throughout his illustrious career, Cleese has received numerous accolades, including the BAFTA Light Entertainment Performance Award in 1980 for Fawlty Towers and the Leading Actor award in 1989 for his role in A Fish Called Wanda.
John Cleese Packs It In will premiere in cinemas on November 13, offering fans and newcomers alike an intimate portrait of one of comedy’s most enduring figures.