When Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Eric Idle took to screens in 1969, no one could've anticipated just how drastically televised comedy would change. Never before had a TV-based comedy group exercised their skills so masterfully to craft hours of entertainment dedicated to satire and dark humour, and we would not again see something of quite the same stature in the 49 years since.

Now, with one member deceased and the remaining five not seeming to have any plans for further reunions in the future, fans of the comedy group are already celebrating their legacy of work and influence. Life Of Brian, Monty Python And The Holy Grail, The Meaning Of Life, and many more great creations graced our screens throughout the years, changing comedy as we know it.

Monty Python And The Holy Grail alone would bear forth a wide range of merchandise, cult fandom, and further entertainment formats. From wide selections of licensed merchandise to Ash Gaming's nostalgic slot and, of course, Monty Python's very own musical Spamalot, their comedy genius has changed how we approach the world of humour.

Despite what seemed like a tearful farewell at the end of the Monty Python Live (Mostly) live shows in 2014, it was far from the end of the Pythons' reign of influence, as 2nd October 2018 saw the release of Eric Idle's brand new book. Appropriately titled Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: A Sortabiography, this memoir allows fans a glimpse at the life he and his colleagues have lived.

Stephen Fry, who has had the privilege of meeting not only Idle but Gilliam, Cleese, Jones and Palin too, says of Idle's new work: "As funny, wicked, naughty, eye-popping and compulsively, joyously brilliant as the genius who wrote it."

Time and time again, fans have seen Eric Idle's inner wordsmith emerge through some of the group's best performances and musical releases, for which he was the driving force. The ever-famous Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life was originally written by Idle and lends itself to become the title of this brand new memoir.

Born in South Shields, Idle is the son of a health visitor, Norah Barron, and Royal Air Force serviceman, Ernest Idle. However, when Ernest died not long after the war, his mother went on to send Eric to the Royal Wolverhampton School as a boarder. He has claimed that "it was a physically abusive, bullying, harsh environment for a kid to grow up in" and that he "got used to dealing with groups of boys and getting on with life in unpleasant circumstances".

Claiming that this was perfect training for being part of Monty Python, his childhood helped Eric to grow into the darkly humorous man still appearing on our TVs to this day. Often portraying the happy-go-lucky characters in Monty Python's greatest productions, fans may never have guessed just what Eric had been through when growing up.

His new book finally gives the in-depth insight that many fans have been craving since the very beginning, and provides an eye-opening view into the ups and downs experienced throughout his life. While mostly a joyous occasion, we see a glimpse at how Idle dealt with the deaths of co-star Graham Chapman and, more recently, those of Beatle George Harrison and actor Robin Williams, who were both good friends of the comedy group, the former a business and movie-producing partner.

One thing you won't see a lot of in his memoir, however, is bitterness. In fact, Idle's positive approach to his life and everyone in it is inspiring, making for an ultimately pleasant and unforgettable read. We learn about the loose writing style used to put together their original BBC series - Monty Python's Flying Circus - and even the way that Idle held a preference for writing on his own and in his own time. Each Python was a writer first and an actor second, and that much is made expressly clear throughout the captivating book.

Eric Idle has built up a legacy that millions of comedy fans across the globe are eager to grip hold of and learn more about. With its aptly chosen title, the memoir offers all readers an enthralling and truly attention-grabbing look at his childhood, his time with the rest of Monty Python and, of course, all of the friends and relationships he built along the way.

For fans of Monty Python or for those simply looking for a laugh, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life: A Sortabiography is an amazing publication not to be missed. Idle's wit and charm truly shines through in this incredible release and any reader will surely be eager to pick it back up.