Monty Python, O2 Arena, review

It could have been an embarrassment all round; a bunch of blokes in their seventies revisiting material that was anarchic and transformative 40 years ago but which they are now performing for 10 lucrative nights in the home of commercial comedy. Fear not, though, Monty Python Live (Mostly): One Down Five to Go - surely the final farewell tour - proves that quality endures. And in the hands of the show's deviser and director, Eric Idle, it can be made into something new and fresh as well.

The other side of Monty Python

Taylor Parkes will not be traipsing down to Greenwich to watch the Monty Python reunion shows. Here he explains what has changed in the "disquieting, disordered, disruptive" British institution.

Stephen Hawking joins Brian Cox on Monty Python Live

Scientist Prof Stephen Hawking is teaming up with Monty Python for their reunion shows. Prof Hawking, director of research at Cambridge University's Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, will appear in the show at London's O2 with Prof Brian Cox.

West London or is it Pythonland?

TV comedy troupe appear together on stage tonight for a sell-out series of reunion shows - but they wouldn't be where they are now without the locations we are used to seeing every day.

Eric Idle: Russell Brand & Eddie Izzard could stand in

In a behind the scenes documentary, Eric Idle has revealed that it has crossed their minds that one of them might not be able to make it on stage, joking that if Michael Palin can't make it they plan to draft in Eddie Izzard or use Russell Brand as a replacement for John Cleese.

Despite being one of the most eagerly awaited dates in 2014's comedy calendar, one big mystery still surrounds this live reunion of the surviving Pythons: will it be any good? Of course, they have the advantage of a back catalogue stuffed with classic sketches. But there's also disturbing talk of dancing girls and big Broadway-style production numbers under the aegis of director Eric Idle. All of which suggests that this may be more along the lines of Spamalot, a wildly successful show that mines the tropes of Python while not quite recreating its original spirit. Regardless of such caveats, it remains tremendously exciting anticipating Cleese, Gilliam, Idle, Jones and Palin all back onstage together again; and, given that the cavernous interior of the O2 may not be the ideal place to explore the nuances of sketch comedy, perhaps a dancing girl or two may be permitted.

Monty Python at the O2 is what I call a dead parrot

The Pythons' sellout gig will deliver everything fans are expecting. But they still won't be funny - they never were.

Monty Python: The last laugh?

The Monty Python reunion shows which begin next week sold out within a minute. Then the backlash began. So is this the glorious farewell of a comedy institution? Or a cynical, greedy stunt? Both, Eric Idle tells Paul Hoggart.

Monty Python interview. Say no more.

The biggest reunion in comedy history is about to take place at the O2 Arena. We speak to the five surviving Pythons and find a bickering comedy 'family' who aren't going to go quietly.

Monty Python on Monty Python

Who's the funniest? Who's the silliest? Is Michael Palin really that nice? We put some quickfire questions to the Monty Python team.