Jane participated in The Guardian’s interview with Eric Idle, submitting a few questions:
Ahead of his UK tour, the former Monty Python star responds to questions from Catherine Zeta-Jones, David Mamet, Janet Suzman, Steve Coogan, Bill Oddie and others:
When news broke in 2021 that Eric Idle had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, dismay was followed by relief when he survived to get the all-clear. Now 83, Idle is thriving and about to embark on his first UK tour since 1973.
Over haddock and chips in London last month, a gentle and friendly Idle answered questions submitted by readers and fellow writers, actors and comedians about his time as a Python, Broadway smash Spamalot – his musical adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail – as well as selfies, Peter Cook and why he feels sorry for the royals:
Which comedian, living or dead, do you most admire? Jane Leeves
Peter Cook, Billy Connolly, Robin Williams, Eddie Izzard. I would say my comedic voice is somewhere between Eric Morecambe and Peter Cook. When I was growing up, I loved Frankie Howerd and Jimmy Edwards. Comedians used to go from place to place doing the same act and lots of them were really funny but TV finished them off, because they couldn’t adapt or write enough new material.
If you hadn’t pursued a life as a writer and performer, is there anything else you might have found a career in? Jane Leeves
I dread to think. The great thing about doing comedy is you never have to have a proper job. I don’t think of my life as a career; I think of it as a life.
Who do you find the most challenging to work with, actors or comedians? Jane Leeves
I appreciate actors more and more. I learned so much from watching Mike Nichols giving notes. When he was firm, he’d sometimes make the actors cry. But he’d always say: you gotta take it seriously. If you don’t, why should the audience?
Source: The Guardian
