John Cleese

John Cleese: Much of success is based on luck

The spiky comedic national treasure tells our reporter why he is returning to small-screen laughtermaking, how he only watches cricket on television these days and that he would not go anywhere near Bake Off.

John Cleese: casinos are preying on people's weaknesses

Veteran performer tells Sydney audience he wants to weep when James Packer uses his wealth to build casinos, 'a horrible way to make money'

Never a dull moment in Charles Crichton's lovely Ealing-esque comedy. A gallery of rogues includes barrister Archie (ohn Cleese) - who falls for gangster's moll Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) - stooge Michael Palin and, most of all, Kevin Kline as Wanda's psychotic boyfriend, Otto: he wants his jewels back, and he'll eat goldfish to get them.

John Cleese in spat with Daily Mail editor

John Cleese has lashed out at Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre after the newspaper ran an article mocking his "beer belly".

John Cleese has launched a YouTube channel

Never let it be said that John Cleese is not down with the kids. The 76-year-old last week surprised everyone - not least himself, one suspects - by launching his official YouTube channel.

Fawlty Towers tribute attack all about publicity

Faulty Towers Dining Experience founder Alison Pollard-Mansergh says she tried to get permission for her show 20 years ago.

The new series of Very British Problems began this week but seems to have lost its purpose. The show began life as a very witty, observant Twitter account which would blurt out panicked and appalled little tweets about the difficulties of being a repressed British person who's trying frantically to avoid embarrassment in a world full of boors and idiots.

The humour lay in not knowing who was sending the tweets and so we could imagine it was an uptight Englishman in a suit and bowler hat, catching the 8.09 to Waterloo, perhaps resembling a stern-faced John Cleese. Or maybe it's a kindly old lady who makes jam for the Women's Institute and crochets bootees for the church jumble sale, and is quietly horrified at the manners of today's young people. We could imagine what we liked, or slot ourselves into the situations described. But transferring the concept from Twitter to TV has ruined that. Our imaginary and oh-so-typical Brit has been replaced by celebrities. James Corden, Catherine Tate and David Tennant now share their awkward moments and social embarrassments, and there is no longer room for us. We've become observers not awkward, agonised participants.

We all love Christmas but wouldn't like it every day - contrary to what the song says. The luxury of all that food, wine and excitement would soon wear off and leave us longing for an uneventful day at work or a quiet potter around the supermarket. We can only take so much wonder and joy - and that must be the reason why Charlie Brooker is relatively rare on TV.

If I was in charge, he'd be on TV constantly. BBC News 24 would be Brooker 24 and watching would be mandatory. But, as with too much turkey and Prosecco, maybe we'd soon start to groan and wilt: no more, please. I'm full! I can't take another joke. I'm woozy with these witty observations. Another gag will make me gag.

Ten comedians who have played Shakespeare

Including Catherine Tate, Benny Hill and Ken Dodd.