John Cleese webchat 17 October

You didn't mention the radio show 'I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again' (or ISIRTA) - that was my introduction to John Cleese. My first husband recorded every single show on reel-to-reel tape that he connected to a timer. We literally woke up to ISIRTA every morning. And trust me, there is no better way to start the day

John ,what has been the one thing in your life that you are most proud of work wise? and how do you keep your audience still laughing after all these years. I think you are totally brilliant

Hi John,
I'm a big fan, especially because of Faulty Towers as I lived in Torquay for 50 years....... but escaped eventually!
We don't see enough of you on t.v. these days. Any chance of writing and starring in a new sitcom, please?

John, how much input did you have in your part as Sir Cadwell the Undaunted (Elder Scrolls Online)? There is a lot of gentle humour in the game, but Cadwell definitely has your stamp firmly upon him.

John, many thanks for all the the pleasure you have given us over the years. My favourite? Basil F! Did you like his character? If you could have your time in comedy all over again what would you choose NOT to do?

Not having a TV for most of my adult life means that my introduction to John Cleese has primarily been through his Training Videos (Video Arts).

My question is: Both as a trainer and the recipient of training courses I thought some of these videos were worth their weight in gold and yet it seems this aspect of your professional life is little known; why do you think this is - and do you care?

GA I'm glad you mentioned those training videos, I remember them fondly from my civil service days.

I don't have a question for John but I'd just like to say thanks for the laughter.

would love to have you for a dinner party, no, no not to eat you but, for the hilarious conversation that I am sure you would generate !!!! my little "shoobox" of a flat would, I am sure come alive, if you decide to take up my invite, maybe you could invite Colin Firth to make up a 3some, dinner and conversation ..... only X

many thanks for you wonderful sense of humour over the years, let us have some more.......please Mr Cleese

Hello John I would also like to thank you for many years of wonderful entertainment.

I was lucky enough to see one of the live Monty Python shows at the O2 recently. Was this something you were keen to do or did you take some persuading? And did it feel like you'd never been away once you all got together to perform the classic material?

I loved Fawlty Towers (actually I love it still)

It's so funny - I wondered how did you keep a straight face when you were filming? Or did there have to be a lot of takes because you all kept laughing?

Hello John,

I'm a huge fan (as is my mother aged 96!)
I once read you were a teacher for a while and I wondered if at any point in your career you had regretted leaving teaching. Or if you expected to return to it some day?
FFx

Thank you for so many hours of pleasure over very many years. I believe you are a grandfather and wondered how that role compares to many of your more well known ones?

You have done so much in your career it was really tricky to think of just one question but I do wonder what one moment would you say you were most proud of in your career or is there one line or joke you wrote which to this day you're most proud of?
Thank you for answering (in advance )

Do you still have a hamster?

have you ever thought of running for parliament? Looking at what's going on these days we could do a lot worse than being governed by the ministry of silly walks

I just saw this on twitter and am so excited to have the chance to ask you a question.

Do you think your comedy career has benefitted from your being tall?

Is it true that your father's name was originally Cheese not Cleese. Cleese is obvioulsy a very nice name but I would have though Cheese would have had more comedic potential. Do you like cheese?

Is it true that the actor that played Manuel was regularly injured during filming of Fawlty Towers? If it is - did he mind?

Hi John,

I did a bit of digging and discovered that you're also a grandpa - do your grandchildren watch Fawlty Towers? My granddaughter is 11 and it's one of the programmes we love to watch together when she comes round (she's showing me how to watch it online). It's such a funny, good natured show and I think it's lovely having something to enjoy with my granddaughter.

How on earth do you manage to come up with such good jokes? I'm not particularly gifted with conversation and I just can't imagine deliberately saying something funny!

Another Fawlty Towers fan here. Would love to know more about the inspiration. If only you had made more of them.

Thank you!

Hello John you have said that you had a difficult relationship with your mother. Do you think this impacted on your relationships with women later in your life? I am thinking of your three marriages that failed.

Loved the Episode of Fawlty Towers with the dead body in the room was absolutely hilarious

John .. I never fail to watch every single repeat of Fawlty Towers - almost know every script off by heart! AND I still laugh at every scene and nuance. Would you know if the hotelier who inspired you to write it moved to a hotel in Lyme Regis? I stayed there once and when I complained on the room phone that there was no hot water - he spat back that what did I expect - it WAS Saturday evening after all? When I insisted that I actually did expect hot water - he came bounding up the stairs and burst, without knocking, into my room to turn the taps on himself!! So Basil! Then in the dining room, he insisted that some American guests refer to the English breakfast they were ordering as "The Full House" and wouldn't accept their order until they spoke those exact words...they were so bewildered! More Basil!

Please do write something similar to FT ...soon!