John Cleese, 81, enjoys lavish lunch date with wife Jennifer Wade, 48, as he teases stage version of Life of Brian after finishing first draft of script
John Cleese delighted Monty Python fans by revealing he has finished the first draft of the script for the stage version of Life of Brian.
But before making his big announcement on Twitter, the 81-year-old actor was seen enjoying a lavish lunch date with his wife Jennifer Wade, 48, at The Ivy Chelsea Garden on Saturday.
The Fawlty Towers star was seen sporting a mask as he and wife Jennifer – who is over 30 years his junior – waited for a taxi on finishing their meal out in the capital.
Lavish lunch date: John Cleese, 81, enjoyed a lunch date with wife Jennifer Wade, 48, at The Ivy Chelsea Garden on Saturday – taking a break from working on the stage script for Life of Brian
John, who was seen sporting a smart blazer, polo shirt and jeans, stood with his hands behind his back, as Jennifer threw her arm into the air to hail a taxi to take them both home.
She looked lovely in her casually chic ensemble that paired together fitted jeans and a grey tee with a tailored black blazer and suede boots.
Jennifer wore her blonde hair down and finished off her look with dewy make-up – toting her essentials in a black handbag she clutched onto under her arm.
She layered gold necklaces around her neck and was seen holding onto a face covering and her sunglasses in one hand.
Taxi! The comedian was sporting a face mask and stood with his hands behind his back, as his wife – 30 years his junior – hailed a taxi to take them home
The couple’s outing together in London came just a day before comedian Cleese confirmed he had finally finished the first draft of the script for Life of Brian – the stage version.
The actor had starred in the original Monty Python movie released in 1979 and previously shared his plans to bring it to life once more.
Posting to Twitter, Cleese revealed that he has been busy penning the script as plans for the stage version get well and truly underway.
He tweeted: ‘Today I finished the first draft of the script for the stage version of Life of Brian.’
Sharing some details, Cleese confirmed the stage version would not be a musical, adding: ‘Not a musical, as songs slow the pace down too much.’
Exciting: Cleese confirmed that he has finished the first draft of the script for the stage version of Monty Python classic Life of Brian, which he hopes will launch in 2022
Details: The star confirmed the stage version of Life of Brian will not be a musical
He also revealed that he is hoping the show will be able to launch next year in 2022 and hinted that he and his fellow Monty Python co-stars won’t be a part of the cast in true comical fashion.
Cleese – who stars in the new Clifford The Big Red Dog movie alongside Jack Whitehall – continued: ‘ Depending on Covid, we might be able to do it in the second half of next year.
‘No Pythons in the cast. We’ve had enough die already.’
Cleese formed comedy troupe Monty Python with Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and Terry Jones.
They first starred in TV show Monty Python’s Flying Circus which aired for the first time in 1969 on BBC, before going on to make movies together.
The troupe’s comedy movies include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, released in 1975, Life Of Brian that came out in 1979 and 1983 film The Meaning of Life.
Classic: Monty Python’s Life of Brian was originally released in 1979 and was a box office hit, despite the controversial movie upsetting religious groups at the time (pictured: Cleese in Life of Brian)
Classic film Life of Brian saw Cleese and his fellow Pythons cause controversy around the world as they told the fictitious story of Brian Cohen – a man born in Roman-occupied Judea who reluctantly finds himself mistaken for the Messiah with the plot featuring many parallels with the life of Jesus.
At the time of the satirical movie’s release Life of Brian was accused of being blasphemous and condemned by religious groups for mocking Christianity.
It was banned or given an 18 certificate by 39 separate local authorities in the UK, the movie was banned for eight years in Ireland and for a year in Norway.
However, the controversy didn’t stop the movie from being a box office hit, with Life of Brian widely considered to be one of the greatest comedy films of all time.
As Cleese prepares to bring the film to life once more, Life of Brian isn’t the first Monty Python movie to hit the stage.
His co-star Idle turned Monty Python and the Holy Grail into hit musical Spamalot.
Spamalot originally ran on Broadway in 2005 and racked up 14 Tony Award nominations, before going on to win three awards, including Best Musical.
Paramount Pictures is currently turning the much-loved musical into a movie.
Deadline reported in January that Spamalot, the movie, will be directed by Dan Jinks (the filmmaker behind American Beauty) and Idle will serve as an executive producer on the project.
Comedy genius: Cleese made up the Monty Python troupe with Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman and Terry Jones (pictured: Cleese and Idle in Monty Python & The Holy Grail)
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