Eric releases new comedy CD

Eric Idle is to release a new comedy CD parodying travel documentaries.

The Rutland Isles, to be released on March 4, is a mix of spoof reportage and silly songs from the fictional chain of 498,000 islands

It has been a pet project for the former Monty Python Star, who had the idea for the show two decades ago, when he first recorded some of the tracks.

Over the years, Idle tried to get Hollywood and TV interested in the project, featuring a David Attenborough-like host, but his efforts came to nothing.

On the Python website Daily Llama, Idle said he last year decided to pursue the project as a CD release, as he could afford to fund that himself.

"I have written a bunch of new stuff and pulled out my favourite bits from a big box filled with old scripts," he said. " John [Du Prez] and I write a whole raft of new silly songs and we set to in a big binge of recording in our tiny garage studio.

"My main narrator is now Nigel Spasm, an irritating award-seeking journalist. After months of editing and re-recording and re-editing the CD becomes two episodes from his award-seeking series.

"It has been a labour of love and something I always knew I would make one day."

The CD features visits to two islands - Paranoia and The Over Friendly Islands. Click here to pre-order it for £14.99

Published: 11 Feb 2003