Pythons reunite for Bafta award

The Pythons won a Bafta for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in 1987

The five surviving members of Monty Python have been joined on stage in New York by a cardboard cut-out of the late Graham Chapman for a 40th reunion.

The comedy troupe behind Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Life of Brian received a Bafta special award for their contribution to TV and film.

"If you want to get a better view, this will be on eBay tomorrow," joked John Cleese, as he accepted the award.

Cult TV series Monty Python's Flying Circus first aired in Britain in 1969.

Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin were given a standing ovation at New York's Ziegfield Theatre on Thursday.

The presentation was followed by a screening of the forthcoming documentary, Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) and questions with the audience - though they were largely ignored in favour of in-group jibes.

"It was made with just six guys entertaining each other and the fact it just seems to go on and on is just amazing," Gilliam told the BBC, commenting on Monty Python's enduring success earlier this month.

"It provides a nice pension fund and allows me to spend lots of years between each movie trying to raise the money," added the film director, whose latest movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is released on Friday.