Monty Python's Eric Idle wants to be cancelled: 'The point was to upset'

English comedian Eric Idle is disappointed that his humour hasn’t had him cancelled yet.

The 76-year-old funnyman was a founding member of the much-loved 1960s Monty Python team and is infamous for his outspokenness on political correctness. 

Claiming he would like to be cancelled for his comedy, the TV veteran seems to feel his words haven’t generated enough reaction. 

Eric felt that being shunned from the virtual and real world would be a nice way to leave his career and settle into retirement. 

Joking with The Daily Telegraph, the star said: ‘I would like to be cancelled so I can go home and read a book and not have to make an a**e of myself all over the world’.

The personality outlined in the chat his feelings on what true comedy should be about – saying the wrong thing at the right time. 


Ahead of performing in Sydney this week, Eric sat with the outlet to discuss why he felt he should be getting more flack for his pointed words and reminisced on his time with the group he was instrumental in starting.

‘You have to remember that Python was offensive when it started. We were not the cuddly old f***ers we are now.

‘It was very offensive. The point was absolutely to upset and insult the bourgeois.’


Since the 60s the star has been driving home the importance of boundary-testing, ‘unsayable’ comedy and didn’t understand why there was so much backlash in the modern arena.

He said: ‘And so who are the people saying you can’t do that?’ 

‘I don’t understand that. Who is the committee that does this? 

‘It sounds a bit like the French Revolution committees, who said, “off with his head”. 

‘I think a lot of bullying goes on in the name of decency.’

Debuting on the BBC in 1969, the comedy team quickly earned a reputation for questionable humour that contained jibes that were outrageous, surreal, often violent and sexual. 

Monty Python was made up of Eric, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin and was formally disbanded three decades ago. 

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