Ex-Python star has cancer surgery

Python stars Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones

Former Monty Python star Terry Jones has undergone surgery for colon cancer.

The 64-year-old star was "in good spirits and the operation went very well", said his agent Jodi Shields.

Jones added: "Unfortunately my illness is not nearly bad enough to sell newspapers, and the prognosis is even more disappointing!"

He last week joined former Monty Python colleagues Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin for the London opening of Idle's Python musical Spamalot.

'Very cheered'

Jones directed the three Python films as well as movies including The Wind in the Willows, and has had success as a TV presenter, author and historian.

Ms Shields said: "Terry's doctors are very cheered with an early diagnosis of possible colon cancer for which he has now had routine surgery in a London private hospital."

Jones was diagnosed just over a week ago and his public engagements cleared for the next few weeks "to allow him some recovery and resting time", she said.

"He is in high spirits and very pleased that the doctors say they have caught it early."