Python stars set for London stage

The stars of Monty Python's Flying Circus - minus John Cleese - are to appear in a one-off London concert to celebrate the show's 40th anniversary.

Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam will appear in the European premiere of Idle's musical Not The Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy).

The oratorio, based on the film Life Of Brian, will receive its UK premiere at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 October.

"It is rare you get to be silly on a mass scale," said Idle.

The music was written by John Du Prez, who began his prolific film career composing additional music for Monty Python's Life of Brian in 1978.

An hour-long version of Not The Messiah (He's A Very Naughty Boy) was first performed in June 2007 in Toronto.

The full show made its debut at that December in Australia, followed by performances in Washington DC, Houston and Los Angeles the following year.

Idle stars as the lead soloist, reprising some of the best-known roles from the film, including Stan the Revolutionary, who wants to be called Loretta, and Mr Cheeky.

Monty Python's Flying Circus first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969 and ran until 1974.

It was written and performed by Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones, Palin and the late Graham Chapman.

A six-episode documentary, Monty Python: Almost The Truth (The Lawyer's Cut) will air on US TV in October before being released on DVD.

Cleese and the other surviving members will all feature.

"This is a documentary I always hoped that would be made - something so complete and so faithful to the truth that I don't need to watch it," said Jones.