Terry Jones 'not doing terribly well' in dementia battle says Michael Palin

Terry Jones is ‘not doing terribly well’ in his fight against dementia, claims his Monty Python co-star Michael Palin.

In 2015, Terry, 77, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia – an uncommon form of dementia which starts at a younger age, affects the front and sides of the brain and causes issues with behaviour and language.

And his close friend Michael, 76, has admitted ‘it’s just a matter of time’ as he shared how the comedian’s condition has deteriorated.

Palin was on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Radio 2 this morning, when Zoe asked how Terry was doing.

The comedy legend replied: ‘Well, not terribly well – the kind of dementia he has is not something that can be cured particularly. It’s just a matter of time. I go and see him, but he can’t speak much, which is a terrible thing.

Advertisement Advertisement

‘I mean, for someone who was so witty and verbal and articulate and argued and debated and all that to be deprived of speech is a hard thing.

‘I still go and see him – actually the other day I did take a book that we’d written together in the 1980s called Bert Fegg’s Encyclopaedia Of All World Knowledge which was sort of an anarchist children’s book and I read some of it – the things we’d written together – and amazing, because Terry suddenly smiled and began to laugh. But the key thing was that he only laughed at the bits that he’d written!’

As the studio burst into laughter, Michael added: ‘I thought – that shows that something is ticking over!’, with Zoe calling the moment ‘beautiful’ and thanking Palin for sharing it.

A Fish Called Wanda star Michael had previously said that Terry no longer recognised him, telling the Daily Star: ‘The last time I saw him I don’t think he recognised me. We knew each other well. It feels like a part of yourself isn’t there anymore.’

Jones was responsible for writing much of Monty Python’s material, and directed Monty Python and The Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning Of Life.

He is also a prolific children’s author and well-respected medieval historian.

The comedy legend has been married to Anna Söderström since 2012, and they share 10-year-old daughter Siri; Jones is also father to Sally, 45, and Bill, 43, from his marriage to Alison Telfer.

Got a showbiz story?

If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.