Monty Python's Black Knight doesn't want a knighthood

The Advertiser

7 days ago

John Cleese would refuse a knighthood if he were offered the British honour.
The Monty Python star - who played the Black Knight in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail - previously turned down the offer of a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and a peerage.
Cleese is adamant that if King Charles selected him for the most prestigious accolade to make him "Sir John Cleese", he would say no to the title because he does not need or want the validation.
"I would. I simply don't need that sort of validation," Cleese said, asked if he would turn down a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.
"It's enough for me to know - because people often tell me - that I've helped them through difficult times by making them laugh.
"They come home, turn on an episode of Fawlty Towers, and the world doesn't seem quite so bleak. That's my reward.
"Frankly, I think those things are rather silly."
Cleese's fellow Monty Python troupe member Michael Palin accepted a knighthood and although Cleese was not interested in receiving one himself, he was happy for his long-time friend.
"Good luck to him," Cleese said in an interview with Candis magazine.
"I was genuinely pleased. I call him Sir Mickey: that's how I always address my emails to him. He's a lovely guy."
The late rock star David Bowie and The History Boys writer Alan Bennett famously turned down knighthoods.
"Just look at those men who have turned down awards and titles: David Bowie, Michael Frayn, Alan Bennett and Albert Finney," Cleese said.
"I have respect for them."
Cleese admits his political beliefs are still on the left when it comes to the distribution of wealth, despite him presenting a show on the right-wing TV channel GB News.
"I'm more to the left economically," he said.
"I think greed is in danger of killing everyone.
"People should be paid good salaries, where possible. We should be generous, not try to save money so billionaires can get richer."
The Life of Brian actor also wishes the world would lighten up and enjoy more "good old-fashioned laughter".
"I think we need much more laughter in the world," he said.
"I'm not advocating mean-teasing - just good old-fashioned laughter.
"There's nothing to beat it."
John Cleese would refuse a knighthood if he were offered the British honour.
The Monty Python star - who played the Black Knight in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail - previously turned down the offer of a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and a peerage.
Cleese is adamant that if King Charles selected him for the most prestigious accolade to make him "Sir John Cleese", he would say no to the title because he does not need or want the validation.
"I would. I simply don't need that sort of validation," Cleese said, asked if he would turn down a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.
"It's enough for me to know - because people often tell me - that I've helped them through difficult times by making them laugh.
"They come home, turn on an episode of Fawlty Towers, and the world doesn't seem quite so bleak. That's my reward.
"Frankly, I think those things are rather silly."
Cleese's fellow Monty Python troupe member Michael Palin accepted a knighthood and although Cleese was not interested in receiving one himself, he was happy for his long-time friend.
"Good luck to him," Cleese said in an interview with Candis magazine.
"I was genuinely pleased. I call him Sir Mickey: that's how I always address my emails to him. He's a lovely guy."
The late rock star David Bowie and The History Boys writer Alan Bennett famously turned down knighthoods.
"Just look at those men who have turned down awards and titles: David Bowie, Michael Frayn, Alan Bennett and Albert Finney," Cleese said.
"I have respect for them."
Cleese admits his political beliefs are still on the left when it comes to the distribution of wealth, despite him presenting a show on the right-wing TV channel GB News.
"I'm more to the left economically," he said.
"I think greed is in danger of killing everyone.
"People should be paid good salaries, where possible. We should be generous, not try to save money so billionaires can get richer."
The Life of Brian actor also wishes the world would lighten up and enjoy more "good old-fashioned laughter".
"I think we need much more laughter in the world," he said.
"I'm not advocating mean-teasing - just good old-fashioned laughter.
"There's nothing to beat it."
John Cleese would refuse a knighthood if he were offered the British honour.
The Monty Python star - who played the Black Knight in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail - previously turned down the offer of a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and a peerage.
Cleese is adamant that if King Charles selected him for the most prestigious accolade to make him "Sir John Cleese", he would say no to the title because he does not need or want the validation.
"I would. I simply don't need that sort of validation," Cleese said, asked if he would turn down a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.
"It's enough for me to know - because people often tell me - that I've helped them through difficult times by making them laugh.
"They come home, turn on an episode of Fawlty Towers, and the world doesn't seem quite so bleak. That's my reward.
"Frankly, I think those things are rather silly."
Cleese's fellow Monty Python troupe member Michael Palin accepted a knighthood and although Cleese was not interested in receiving one himself, he was happy for his long-time friend.
"Good luck to him," Cleese said in an interview with Candis magazine.
"I was genuinely pleased. I call him Sir Mickey: that's how I always address my emails to him. He's a lovely guy."
The late rock star David Bowie and The History Boys writer Alan Bennett famously turned down knighthoods.
"Just look at those men who have turned down awards and titles: David Bowie, Michael Frayn, Alan Bennett and Albert Finney," Cleese said.
"I have respect for them."
Cleese admits his political beliefs are still on the left when it comes to the distribution of wealth, despite him presenting a show on the right-wing TV channel GB News.
"I'm more to the left economically," he said.
"I think greed is in danger of killing everyone.
"People should be paid good salaries, where possible. We should be generous, not try to save money so billionaires can get richer."
The Life of Brian actor also wishes the world would lighten up and enjoy more "good old-fashioned laughter".
"I think we need much more laughter in the world," he said.
"I'm not advocating mean-teasing - just good old-fashioned laughter.
"There's nothing to beat it."
John Cleese would refuse a knighthood if he were offered the British honour.
The Monty Python star - who played the Black Knight in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail - previously turned down the offer of a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and a peerage.
Cleese is adamant that if King Charles selected him for the most prestigious accolade to make him "Sir John Cleese", he would say no to the title because he does not need or want the validation.
"I would. I simply don't need that sort of validation," Cleese said, asked if he would turn down a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.
"It's enough for me to know - because people often tell me - that I've helped them through difficult times by making them laugh.
"They come home, turn on an episode of Fawlty Towers, and the world doesn't seem quite so bleak. That's my reward.
"Frankly, I think those things are rather silly."
Cleese's fellow Monty Python troupe member Michael Palin accepted a knighthood and although Cleese was not interested in receiving one himself, he was happy for his long-time friend.
"Good luck to him," Cleese said in an interview with Candis magazine.
"I was genuinely pleased. I call him Sir Mickey: that's how I always address my emails to him. He's a lovely guy."
The late rock star David Bowie and The History Boys writer Alan Bennett famously turned down knighthoods.
"Just look at those men who have turned down awards and titles: David Bowie, Michael Frayn, Alan Bennett and Albert Finney," Cleese said.
"I have respect for them."
Cleese admits his political beliefs are still on the left when it comes to the distribution of wealth, despite him presenting a show on the right-wing TV channel GB News.
"I'm more to the left economically," he said.
"I think greed is in danger of killing everyone.
"People should be paid good salaries, where possible. We should be generous, not try to save money so billionaires can get richer."
The Life of Brian actor also wishes the world would lighten up and enjoy more "good old-fashioned laughter".
"I think we need much more laughter in the world," he said.
"I'm not advocating mean-teasing - just good old-fashioned laughter.
"There's nothing to beat it."