Chapman's boozing almost destroyed the Pythons

The full story of how Graham Chapman's alcoholism almost destroyed Monty Python is revealed in a new book.

The Pythons Autobiography is the first time all surviving members of the iconic comedy team have collaborated to produce their definitive story.

In it, Michael Palin said the worse row to hit the group came on tour, when John Cleese raged at his writing partner's drunken performance.

He said: "John publicly gave him a real big bollocking: it was just not good enough and it was selfish. Something in [John] said this is not the time to be polite and accommodating, it was time to confront it."

And, in an extract published in today's Sunday Times, Cleese recalls Chapman was "almost incapable" while filming the TV series. He said: "He couldn't get two lines right, one after the other. In the third series we had to abandon a sketch because Graham couldn't get through it."

Chapman's drinking came to a head while filming Monty Python And The Holy Grail. Terry Gillam said: "Graham was a drunken sot! He couldn't say his lines. He'd get through a sentence and then he'd blank outHe got drunk and was just howling at us about how useless we were and what assholes we were, useless fucking wankers."

Graham came to realise he was an alcoholic while working on the next film, Life Of Brian, and suddenly gave up drinking, overnight becoming what Eric Idle described as "a saint".

Chapman died in October 1989, with Cleese in the next room.

As well as personal accounts, The Pythons Autobiography, published on September 22, includes unseen personal material, plus more than 1,000 photographs.

It will also come with limited edition snap-on coffee table legs and a unique Python 'foot vase'.

It is published by Orion at £30, but click here to pre-order from Amazon for £21.

Published: 7 Sep 2003