John Cleese leads tributes to ‘towering talent’ Neil Innes after Monty Python collaborator’s death aged 75

The Monty Python writer and performer died suddenly on Sunday
Rachel McGrath30 December 2019
The Weekender

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TV stars including John Cleese, Stephen Fry and Diane Morgan have paid tribute to Neil Innes, after the actor and musician’s death aged 75.

Innes wrote music for Monty Python’s albums before performing with the comedy group in their final series when John Cleese, 80, temporarily left.

The sad news of Innes’ death was confirmed by his agent on Monday morning and condolences soon began pouring in online.

Posting on Twitter on Monday afternoon, Cleese said he was “utterly dismayed to about Neil Innes. Right out of the blue…”

“Lovely writer and performer,” he added. “When he worked with Python on our stage show, I listened every night to ‘How sweet to be an Idiot’ on the tannoy. Very sad.”

Innes was one of only two non-Pythons to be credited as a writer for the TV series, alongside Douglas Adams, and he was well-known for a series of other projects too.

Fry hailed his work as part of the group Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, who appeared in the ITV comedy show Do Not Adjust Your Set.

“So sad to hear of the death of @NeilInnes,” he tweeted. “The Bonzos were everything to me when I was a teenager. I bought the LP of Tadpoles first: Tackle the toons you tapped your tootsies to on Thames TV's Do Not Adjust Your Set.

“A great songwriter, great voice, great man.”

Many others stars praised his work as a co-writer and performer with Monty Python.

Actor and writer Mark Gatiss wrote: “Neil Innes has gone. As a Python-obsessed teen I saw him at Darlington Arts Centre & missed my bus home to catch his brilliance.

“I used to record The Innes Book of Records on C-60s & marvel at his talent. I still hum ‘I like Cezanne, says Anne’. Sweet dreams, sweet idiot.”

Comedian Morgan added: “Fairwell Neil Innes. One of the nicest people I’ve ever met and a towering talent.” [sic]

Other famous faces to share tributes included Black Mirror co-creator Charlie Brooker and His Dark Materials writer Jack Thorne:

According to Innes’ agent, Nigel Morton, the star had not been ill and his death was unexpected.

In a statement, his family said: “It is with deep sorrow and great sadness that we have to announce the death of Neil James Innes on 29th December 2019.

“We have lost a beautiful kind, gentle soul whose music and songs touched the heart of everyone and whose intellect and search for truth inspired us all.

“He died of natural causes quickly without warning and, I think, without pain.

“His wife Yvonne and their three sons Miles, Luke and Barney and three grandchildren Max Issy and Zac give thanks for his life, for his music and for the joy he gave us all.”

He also appeared in Terry Gilliam’s Jabberwocky before signing up for the sketch show Rutland Weekend Television, about a fictional low-budget regional TV station.

Innes performed in parody act The Rutles as Ron Nasty, styled after John Lennon, and played the guitar, keyboards and sang.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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