September 4, 2024 • 10 mins
Monty Python star Eric Idle is making his way to Christchurch in his one man musical.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, Live! is a nostalgic reflection on his love comedy, music, life, and what he calls “Mock and Roll”, a blend of comedy and music.
He joined John MacDonald live from Los Angeles to discuss the show that will be hitting the city on the 28th of October at the Isaac Theatre Royal.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
News Talks dB Canoby Mornings with John McDonald. So, Monty
Python star Eric Idol has come to christ Church next
month with us Always Look on the bright Side of
Life tour is going to be the Isaac Theater Royal
on the twenty eighth of October, and he's with Ustow
on the phone from Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Hi, Eric, Hey, good morning, John.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
How are you No, I'm very well. I'm really curious
to know how well has that line about looking on
the bright side of life served you over the years?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Well? Pretty well actually. I mean I did anxiously survive
pancreatic cancer, so that was kind of like a very
useful little reminder, you know. I think I think being
optimistic is a good is a better way of looking
at the world than being pessimistic. There are there are
more things to complain about than there are to be
happy about, So I think encouraging people to look on
(01:01):
the bright side is actually quite a good idea. It
makes them happier.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I'll come back to the pancreatic cancer, but in terms
of looking on the on the bright side, or being hippy.
Don't they say that comedians are actually the least happy
people you'll ever come across.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I don't know that that's true. I think making people
laugh is actually a very nice thing to do. And
some comedians can be duer and a little bit cross
and cranky, but I think the comedians are the sort
of they're They're like the Emperor's new clothes. They'rether what
tells us that the emperor has no clothes on, And
(01:37):
often it's just simply saying the truth that makes people laugh,
and so I think they fulfill a very vital and
important role in letting us know what's going on in
the world.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I suppose comedy also helps or or encourages us not
to take ourselves too seriously as well, and.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
That's very important I think we do, and I think
as a species we do that, and even as of
the planet we do that. And yet all you have
to do is go outside and a one night and
just look how many millions of stars there are, and
not a single one will ever have heard of us.
So there are vast distances, and that's what I find
a lot of, you know, comfort in just thinking about
(02:18):
the universe and how extraordinarily fortunate we are to be
walking around in it in these rather lovely forms.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So you basically said, we need, you know, we need
reminding exactly how small and consequential we are. Were you
ever during your career did you have to tell that
to yourself? Did you ever get big hidden, especially maybe
around the Monty Python times.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I don't think necessarily around those times, because we were
kind of arrogant, being a group of six of us.
You know, we were saying, no, this is funny. We're
going to do what we think is funny, no matter
what the BBC say or anybody else says. But I
think it is an important reminder, especially the older you
get that it's actually a privilege, and it's actually it's
(03:05):
fairly extraordinary that we have evolved on such an extraordinary planet.
And I think that that is an optimistic thought and
it can we can draw great comfort for it, especially
since we have to leave it.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
When you got your diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, when was it,
How long ago was there?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
It was five years ago, and it was quite sudden.
And my doctor is very bright and smart, and he
spotted it from a blood test and we had a
you know, an MRI, and there it was, and it
was very early on, at very early stages, and so
we whipped it out in about ten days. And so
ever since then, I've been trying to encourage, you know, research,
(03:46):
We do bits of charity here and there to raise
money because now we can find it on blood tests.
It does mean that people who if they're worried or anxious,
can have this test and see especially regularly whether that
number gets elevated. And when that does, it's a very
strong signal that something's adrift. And and that's so we
(04:10):
started to improve the survival numbers quite significantly by that
because you don't have long, you know, because the pancreas
it sits there and then it just spreads right around
the body. That's why it gets you so quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
How come how come you made such a good first
of getting over or well, has it gone completely?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yes, he got it all there that the surgeon chopped
it out, and he had partly robotic. How did I
do it? I did nothing. I was just the patient.
I was very fortunate in having a great doctor who
believes in preventative medicine, and every year he'd make us
do blood tests and do this and the other, and
(04:51):
it pays off. You know, if you keep an eye
on things, you can spot things early. The blood the
body is warning you certain things.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Is there anything you learned through that experience that you
that was that was new to you.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I feel very blessed. I feel that I had a
requieve and that I got a second chance. And I've
got to see everybody and people I love and my kids,
and I also got to carry on making people laugh
and having sing songs of people I love. And I
think you know, it gave me certainly a wider and
(05:27):
happier perspective online.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Because you're eighty now, are you on eighty one? Excuse me?
Sorry for underselling that one I was reading. Yeah, I
was read exactly It's a price to take and hold.
I was reading recently that you was, and I just
want to check how true this is. I was reading
that you'd been saying that you were still working at
(05:50):
age eighty one, because you have to how true? Is
that very true?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I mean, you know people assume that sometimes, you know,
because we were only paid BBC money back in the day,
which was hot very much, and you know, certain things
make money. Certainly it's show business. Sometimes you make money
and sometimes you need money. And I find that there's
nothing wrong with working for your living, especially if living
(06:16):
in America, because you have to pay for with your doctors.
They have no medical medical things worth having, really they don't.
So I don't mind doing it because I like making
people laugh. I mean it is a sort of weakness.
I mean it is a sort of one. It becomes
a laugh junkie. You do want them to laugh. I
(06:38):
think there's nothing wrong with that. Really, it's quite a
nice living.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
You talk about a laugh junkie. Are you hooked on it?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I think so. I think it's it's something that's always
been with me. And I think I find myself saying
funny things. I don't think of them and then say them.
I find them coming oheud of my mouth and thinking
what did you just say? And I think to means
have like a lack of sense, a census, you know,
they don't have a mechanism that says, don't say that,
(07:06):
you idiot. They just say it.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
And you've got and you've got and you've got to
take the risk because sometimes there'll be some clangers, but
most of the time there are some. There are some gyms.
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I think you must. I think if you start censoring
yourself and second guessing yourself, you become a lot less funny.
Whereas you know, if you say the thing and as
it comes, and it is, I think the Emperor's new
close you are, you are pointing out things that often
need pointing out.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
How come you live in Los Angeles these days?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Well, I've lived here for thirty years, all right, lived
in England for about sixteen years with her. And you know,
I don't know that they've been doing them. But let's
do a lot of raining, and they do a lot
of moaning. And actually I haven't for Europe, you know.
But California is a very beautiful place. I mean, it's
(07:59):
a very nice place to live. It's very agreeable, you know.
I mean that there's many things up with American systems,
but you know, I find it. I like the you're
near nature. I like the countryside, I like the sea,
I let the mountains. It's it's very good place place
to live.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Do you talk about American politics on the show to
King tonight before we fly what we can expect on
the shop?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Absolutely not at all. I avoid American as much as
I possibly can they have endless electioneering. It seems to
go on every four years. For four years, I felt
very boring, nothing but opinions, and it's just endless. So
I go and hide in Europe for about as long
as I'm allowed anymore, which is only three months, and
(08:42):
I have to be thrown out because of Brexit, and
so I'm very happy to be down under during the election.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And what's in the shop? What are you talking about?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
I'm talking about things that people I know maybe laugh
and contribute to people I know. I'm talking about things
I think we are beginning with the meaning of life.
I'm going to go to this simple shadow. Things like that.
There's a bit of philosophy, there's one part joke, and
there's quite a lot of music. There's a lot of
(09:14):
songs because I like playing songs and I like writing songs.
And I have a virtual band, which is I think
a new thing for show business. So I've got them
on screen.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Wow, speaking of bends, just before we fly, any chance
of you guys doing an Oasis and getting Bonty Python
back together?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
What's an Oasis?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, they're the British band of just announced after fifteen
years of infighting, the getting back together next year, well,
I think.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
There would be very difficult. So you have to bring
two of them back from the dead. And I think
until we've done that, I don't know whether it be
worth doing.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Artificial intelligence AI, Eric, you could do amazing things.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yes, well I've got artificial stupidity and I've got a
band coming with me here. But we've created from as
and I think that it's new. You know.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Lovely to talk to Eric, and we'll see you next
month in christ Church.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Thank you very much. I enjoyed talking to you.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Thank you very much. Serah Idyl And you know, we
we say he's the Monty Python star, but man alive.
There is so much more to Eric Idol than Monty Python.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
to news Talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
News Talks dB Canoby Mornings with John McDonald. So, Monty
Python star Eric Idol has come to christ Church next
month with us Always Look on the bright Side of
Life tour is going to be the Isaac Theater Royal
on the twenty eighth of October, and he's with Ustow
on the phone from Los Angeles.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Hi, Eric, Hey, good morning, John.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
How are you No, I'm very well. I'm really curious
to know how well has that line about looking on
the bright side of life served you over the years?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Well? Pretty well actually. I mean I did anxiously survive
pancreatic cancer, so that was kind of like a very
useful little reminder, you know. I think I think being
optimistic is a good is a better way of looking
at the world than being pessimistic. There are there are
more things to complain about than there are to be
happy about, So I think encouraging people to look on
(01:01):
the bright side is actually quite a good idea. It
makes them happier.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
I'll come back to the pancreatic cancer, but in terms
of looking on the on the bright side, or being hippy.
Don't they say that comedians are actually the least happy
people you'll ever come across.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I don't know that that's true. I think making people
laugh is actually a very nice thing to do. And
some comedians can be duer and a little bit cross
and cranky, but I think the comedians are the sort
of they're They're like the Emperor's new clothes. They'rether what
tells us that the emperor has no clothes on, And
(01:37):
often it's just simply saying the truth that makes people laugh,
and so I think they fulfill a very vital and
important role in letting us know what's going on in
the world.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I suppose comedy also helps or or encourages us not
to take ourselves too seriously as well, and.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
That's very important I think we do, and I think
as a species we do that, and even as of
the planet we do that. And yet all you have
to do is go outside and a one night and
just look how many millions of stars there are, and
not a single one will ever have heard of us.
So there are vast distances, and that's what I find
a lot of, you know, comfort in just thinking about
(02:18):
the universe and how extraordinarily fortunate we are to be
walking around in it in these rather lovely forms.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So you basically said, we need, you know, we need
reminding exactly how small and consequential we are. Were you
ever during your career did you have to tell that
to yourself? Did you ever get big hidden, especially maybe
around the Monty Python times.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I don't think necessarily around those times, because we were
kind of arrogant, being a group of six of us.
You know, we were saying, no, this is funny. We're
going to do what we think is funny, no matter
what the BBC say or anybody else says. But I
think it is an important reminder, especially the older you
get that it's actually a privilege, and it's actually it's
(03:05):
fairly extraordinary that we have evolved on such an extraordinary planet.
And I think that that is an optimistic thought and
it can we can draw great comfort for it, especially
since we have to leave it.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
When you got your diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, when was it,
How long ago was there?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
It was five years ago, and it was quite sudden.
And my doctor is very bright and smart, and he
spotted it from a blood test and we had a
you know, an MRI, and there it was, and it
was very early on, at very early stages, and so
we whipped it out in about ten days. And so
ever since then, I've been trying to encourage, you know, research,
(03:46):
We do bits of charity here and there to raise
money because now we can find it on blood tests.
It does mean that people who if they're worried or anxious,
can have this test and see especially regularly whether that
number gets elevated. And when that does, it's a very
strong signal that something's adrift. And and that's so we
(04:10):
started to improve the survival numbers quite significantly by that
because you don't have long, you know, because the pancreas
it sits there and then it just spreads right around
the body. That's why it gets you so quickly.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
How come how come you made such a good first
of getting over or well, has it gone completely?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yes, he got it all there that the surgeon chopped
it out, and he had partly robotic. How did I
do it? I did nothing. I was just the patient.
I was very fortunate in having a great doctor who
believes in preventative medicine, and every year he'd make us
do blood tests and do this and the other, and
(04:51):
it pays off. You know, if you keep an eye
on things, you can spot things early. The blood the
body is warning you certain things.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Is there anything you learned through that experience that you
that was that was new to you.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I feel very blessed. I feel that I had a
requieve and that I got a second chance. And I've
got to see everybody and people I love and my kids,
and I also got to carry on making people laugh
and having sing songs of people I love. And I
think you know, it gave me certainly a wider and
(05:27):
happier perspective online.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Because you're eighty now, are you on eighty one? Excuse me?
Sorry for underselling that one I was reading. Yeah, I
was read exactly It's a price to take and hold.
I was reading recently that you was, and I just
want to check how true this is. I was reading
that you'd been saying that you were still working at
(05:50):
age eighty one, because you have to how true? Is
that very true?
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I mean, you know people assume that sometimes, you know,
because we were only paid BBC money back in the day,
which was hot very much, and you know, certain things
make money. Certainly it's show business. Sometimes you make money
and sometimes you need money. And I find that there's
nothing wrong with working for your living, especially if living
(06:16):
in America, because you have to pay for with your doctors.
They have no medical medical things worth having, really they don't.
So I don't mind doing it because I like making
people laugh. I mean it is a sort of weakness.
I mean it is a sort of one. It becomes
a laugh junkie. You do want them to laugh. I
(06:38):
think there's nothing wrong with that. Really, it's quite a
nice living.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
You talk about a laugh junkie. Are you hooked on it?
Speaker 3 (06:45):
I think so. I think it's it's something that's always
been with me. And I think I find myself saying
funny things. I don't think of them and then say them.
I find them coming oheud of my mouth and thinking
what did you just say? And I think to means
have like a lack of sense, a census, you know,
they don't have a mechanism that says, don't say that,
(07:06):
you idiot. They just say it.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
And you've got and you've got and you've got to
take the risk because sometimes there'll be some clangers, but
most of the time there are some. There are some gyms.
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (07:17):
I think you must. I think if you start censoring
yourself and second guessing yourself, you become a lot less funny.
Whereas you know, if you say the thing and as
it comes, and it is, I think the Emperor's new
close you are, you are pointing out things that often
need pointing out.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
How come you live in Los Angeles these days?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Well, I've lived here for thirty years, all right, lived
in England for about sixteen years with her. And you know,
I don't know that they've been doing them. But let's
do a lot of raining, and they do a lot
of moaning. And actually I haven't for Europe, you know.
But California is a very beautiful place. I mean, it's
(07:59):
a very nice place to live. It's very agreeable, you know.
I mean that there's many things up with American systems,
but you know, I find it. I like the you're
near nature. I like the countryside, I like the sea,
I let the mountains. It's it's very good place place
to live.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Do you talk about American politics on the show to
King tonight before we fly what we can expect on
the shop?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Absolutely not at all. I avoid American as much as
I possibly can they have endless electioneering. It seems to
go on every four years. For four years, I felt
very boring, nothing but opinions, and it's just endless. So
I go and hide in Europe for about as long
as I'm allowed anymore, which is only three months, and
(08:42):
I have to be thrown out because of Brexit, and
so I'm very happy to be down under during the election.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And what's in the shop? What are you talking about?
Speaker 3 (08:53):
I'm talking about things that people I know maybe laugh
and contribute to people I know. I'm talking about things
I think we are beginning with the meaning of life.
I'm going to go to this simple shadow. Things like that.
There's a bit of philosophy, there's one part joke, and
there's quite a lot of music. There's a lot of
(09:14):
songs because I like playing songs and I like writing songs.
And I have a virtual band, which is I think
a new thing for show business. So I've got them
on screen.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Wow, speaking of bends, just before we fly, any chance
of you guys doing an Oasis and getting Bonty Python
back together?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
What's an Oasis?
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Yeah, they're the British band of just announced after fifteen
years of infighting, the getting back together next year, well,
I think.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
There would be very difficult. So you have to bring
two of them back from the dead. And I think
until we've done that, I don't know whether it be
worth doing.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Artificial intelligence AI, Eric, you could do amazing things.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yes, well I've got artificial stupidity and I've got a
band coming with me here. But we've created from as
and I think that it's new. You know.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Lovely to talk to Eric, and we'll see you next
month in christ Church.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Thank you very much. I enjoyed talking to you.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Thank you very much. Serah Idyl And you know, we
we say he's the Monty Python star, but man alive.
There is so much more to Eric Idol than Monty Python.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
For more from Category Mornings with John McDonald, listen live
to news Talks It'd be christ Church from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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