This originally fictional band, created by Eric Idle and Neil Innes for 1970s television programming, became an actual group ( while remaining a parody of The Beatles ) and toured and recorded, releasing two UK chart hits.

" Always Look on the Bright Side of Life " is a comedy song written by Eric Idle that was originally featured in the 1979 film Monty Python's Life of Brian and has gone on to become a common singalong at public events such as football matches as well as funerals.

The show has been released on DVD, originally in a 66-minute version incorporating cuts for syndication, later in a " special edition " restored to its full length of 72 minutes and with extras including a commentary by Idle.

" The Galaxy Song " is a song written by Eric Idle which originally appeared in the 1983 film Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, later being released onto the album Monty Python Sings.

Idle wrote for Python mostly by himself, at his own pace, although he sometimes found it difficult in having to present material to the others and make it seem funny without the back-up support of a partner.

Idle wrote and directed the Rutles comeback in 2008 for a live show Rutlemania!

Idle also wrote the book and co-wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Monty Python's Spamalot, based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Idle wrote the lyrics and book for Spamalot, collaborating with John Du Prez on much of the music.

In Slate, Sam Anderson wrote in the article " And Now for Something Completely Deficient " that though Idle " has earned a spot in Comedy Heaven for his Python days ... his jokey ' exposure ' of his own exploitation ( he has called tours ' Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python ' and ' The Greedy Bastard Tour ') is more irritating than funny.

In the 1940s, he wrote a series of book musicals with social messages, including the very successful Bloomer Girl ( 1944 ) ( about temperance and women's rights activist Amelia Bloomer ) and his most famous Broadway show, Finian's Rainbow ( 1947 ) ( perhaps the first Broadway musical with a racially integrated chorus line, featuring Harburg's " When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich ").

Whilst trying to come up with a way of ending the film Monty Python's Life of Brian, Eric Idle wrote an original version of the song which was sung in a more straight fashion, which the other Python members agreed would be good enough for the end of the film.

* Eric Idle, a former member of Monty Python's Flying Circus, wrote a children's book entitled The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat which was based on the poem.

* " Nudge Nudge " – Idle pesters Jones with perplexing innuendo.

# Nudge Nudge: Sitting in a bar, a man ( Idle ) asks another man ( Jones ) about his wife, with a relentless stream of sexual innuendos.

" Candid Photography ", better known as " Nudge Nudge ", is a sketch from the third Monty Python's Flying Circus episode, " How to Recognise Different Types of Trees From Quite a Long Way Away " featuring Eric Idle ( author of the sketch ) and Terry Jones as two strangers who meet in a pub.

Jones responds in a confused, non-committal sort of way, appearing not to understand the innuendo, and Idle responds with an enthusiastic " Nudge, Nudge, wink wink, Say no more ".

During the interview, Idle announces that he's written a sketch called " Nudge Nudge.

In an extra on the Rutles DVD, Idle claims " Nudge Nudge " was Presley's favorite Python sketch.

In 1969, Chapman and Cleese joined the other Pythons including Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin for their sketch comedy show Flying Circus.

Shortly after the release of Monty Python and the Holy Grail ( 1975 ), Eric Idle flippantly suggested that the title of the Pythons ' forthcoming feature would be Jesus Christ – Lust for Glory ( a play on the UK title for the 1970 American film Patton ).

The scenes shown included the shepherds gathering for Jesus's birth, which would have been at the very start of the movie ; a segment showing the kidnap of Pilate's wife ( a large woman played by John Case ); a scene introducing hardline Zionist Otto, leader of the Judean People's Front ( played by Eric Idle ); and a scene in which Pilate's wife alerts Otto to Brian's capture.

Cousins Peter Oundjian ( Caramoor's Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor ) and Eric Idle joined forces once again for a double performance of the oratorio in July 2007.

They were also in the team of writers working for The Frost Report, whose other members included Frank Muir, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Dick Vosburgh and future Monty Python members Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Eric Idle.

Æthelfrith, who was for years a successful war-leader, especially against the native British, was eventually killed in battle around 616 by Raedwald of East Anglia at the River Idle.

Moving to England, he animated sequences for the children's series Do Not Adjust Your Set, which also featured Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.

Up until the 1990s, each of Gilliam's non-Python films was to feature at least one of his fellow Monty Python alumni ( particularly Palin, Cleese, and Idle ), and for his finished projects Gilliam has worked with the following actors more than once ( in order of first film appearance ):

* And Now for Something Completely Different ( 1972 ) with Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin

Idle is quoted as saying: " It was a physically abusive, bullying, harsh environment for a kid to grow up in.

Idle had already refused to be senior boy in the school cadet force, as he supported the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and had participated in the yearly Aldermaston March.

This ran for two seasons from 1973 to 1974 and involved Idle performing sketches and links to records, with himself playing nearly all the multi-tracked parts.

Idle is also writer and star of the 3-D film film Pirates – 4D for Busch Entertainment Corporation.

Idle won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics.

Idle is an accomplished songwriter, having composed and performed many of the Pythons ' most famous comic pieces, including " Eric the Half-a-Bee ", " The Philosophers ' Song ", " Galaxy Song ", " Penis Song ( Not the Noel Coward Song )" and, probably his most recognised hit, " Always Look on the Bright Side of Life ", which was written for the closing scene of the Monty Python film Life of Brian, and sung from the crosses during the mass crucifixion.

Idle presented Mayo with a model human foot, akin to the one used in the Monty Python title sequence, as a thank you gift for promoting the song.

In 2004, Idle recorded a protest song of sorts, the " FCC Song ", in which he lambastes the US Federal Communications Commission for fining him $ 5, 000 for saying the word " fuck " on national radio.

Idle contributed a cover of Buddy Holly's " Raining in My Heart " for the tribute album Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, released 6 September 2011.

Originally written by Eric Idle for Ronnie Barker in another comedy show, the sketch was then rejected as a script.

They included future Goodies members Bill Oddie and Tim Brooke-Taylor, and also Frank Muir, Denis Norden, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Dick Vosburgh, Anthony Jay ( Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister ) and future Python members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin.

it was released on the 27th of April in Ireland and the 30th of April in the UK, and features the titular character, Electra Heart, as a fictional character of Marina's creation who epitomizes the American female at her very worst, in the four " Archetypes "; the Primadonna, SuBarbieA, Homewrecker, and the Teen Idle.

Jeff Lynne, frontman of fellow Birmingham group The Idle Race, was excited by the concept.

With fellow Pythons already aware of his sexual orientation, Eric Idle replied, " We've found out who it was and we've had him shot.

Not to be outdone by Cleese, Idle was heard saying during the song's close: " I'd just like to be the last person at this meeting to say ' fuck '.

In June 2011, it was announced that most of the surviving Python members ( except Idle ) will perform in a 3-D animated version of Chapman's memoir A Liar ’ s Autobiography: Volume VI.

Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam, while promoting Holy Grail in Amsterdam, had come up with a sketch in which Jesus ' cross was falling apart because of the idiotic carpenters who built it and he angrily tells them how to do it correctly.

However, after an early brainstorming stage, and despite being non-believers, they agreed that Jesus was " definitely a good guy " and found nothing to mock in his actual teachings: " He's not particularly funny, what he's saying isn't mockable, it's very decent stuff ..." said Idle later.

Idle himself was said to have been uncomfortable with the character ; " It's essentially a pretty savage attack on rabid Zionism, suggesting it's rather akin to Nazism, which is a bit strong to take, but certainly a point of view ".

The oratorio, called Not the Messiah ( He's a Very Naughty Boy ), was commissioned to be part of the festival called Luminato in Toronto, Ontario, in June 2007, and was written / scored by Idle and John Du Prez, who also worked with Idle on Spamalot.

Bruces ' Philosophers Song ( Bruces ' Song ) was a popular Monty Python song written by Eric Idle, and was a feature of the group's stage appearances and its recordings.

At the same time the success of Do Not Adjust Your Set had led Palin, Jones, Idle and Gilliam to be offered their own series and, while it was still in production, Palin agreed to Cleese's proposal and brought along Idle, Jones and Gilliam.

The One Foot in the Grave theme song was written, composed and sung by Eric Idle.

He was defeated and killed around the year 616 in battle at the River Idle by Raedwald of East Anglia, who installed Edwin, the son of Aella, a former king of Deira, as king.

In early 2001 the CD Ride was released, featuring a new addition to the Idle Chatter family: " Idle Chatter Junior " and the 19-minute title piece, which tries to simulate a ride through various towns and country.

Wenceslaus ( also Wenceslas ; ;, nicknamed der Faule (" the Idle "); 26 February 1361 – 16 August 1419 ) was, by inheritance, King of Bohemia ( as Wenceslaus IV ) from 1363 and by election, German King ( formally King of the Romans ) from 1376.

The " Four Yorkshiremen " sketch was performed during Amnesty International concerts ( by members of Monty Python — once including Rowan Atkinson in place of Python member Eric Idle ), as well as during Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl and other Monty Python shows and recordings.