Eric ribs colleagues at honour bash

Eric Idle cracked jokes at the expense of his Monty Python colleagues when he collected an honour on their behalf in Los Angeles.

"John Cleese is unfortunately finishing a film - which has to back at Blockbuster tonight. Graham Chapman sadly can't be here because he's still dead. Unfortunately Terry Gilliam is still alive," he quipped, as the team was accepted into the Hollywood Bowl hall of fame.

Robin Williams presented Idle - who had entered the venue with a troop of Canadian Mounties - with the honour at the weekend ceremony, which also paid tribute to musicians Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt and John Raitt.

Published: 4 Jul 2001