Eric Idle makes funeral admission on BBC Radio: 'Leaving with a smile'

Monty Python legend Eric Idle has revealed he believes "leaving with a smile" at funerals would be a "very good thing," as he admitted the irony behind his best-loved anthem Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The 82-year-old comedy veteran was speaking on the BBC's Afternoon podcast with Nicola Meighan when he discussed how the famous tune has become a global funeral favourite. Nicola said: "The song has become this sort of manifesto for life over the years but it's also kind of a cheery farewell for the departed, it's a hugely popular song at funerals.

"Do you remember writing it? Did you have any idea that we would have this existential resonance decades on?" The Python star replied: "Well - no! I suggested it as an end of a film The Life of Brian and all our characters were heading for crucifixion and they said how can we end this film, everyone's being crucified, and so I said we have to end it with a song clearly."

He went on to explain his desire to write an ironically happy "Disney"-like song, and did in just two hours.

He shared: "And we should sing it very cheery and it should be like a Disney song and it should maybe have a whistle and it should perhaps be about looking on the bright side. And they said 'huh'.

"And so I went home and I picked up my guitar and I wrote it very quickly, in a couple hours, and I recorded it and I took it in next day and they said 'that's it we can go down to the pub we finished the screenplay.'"

He stressed his joy at the songs emergence as a popular funeral anthem, stating: "You have to remember it's kind of an ironic song, I mean you know when you are being crucified, you don't have very much time to look on the bright side left, so I guess it's appropriate at funerals.

"And I love that I love the fact that people choose it because I think leaving with a smile as well as tears is a very, very good thing, it's very healthy."

The pancreatic cancer survivor and father-of-one, who will hit the road in September 2025 for his first solo UK tour in 52 years, is preparing to bring Always Look on the Bright Side of Life LIVE to theatres across Britain.

The farewell show will see the comedy great joined by The Virtual Band in an evening of rude songs, singalongs, cheeky stories and rare footage, alongside a salute to The Rutles.

The show will also pay tribute to his late friends George Harrison, Robin Williams and Neil Innes.

Speaking of the tour, Eric joked to Metro: "this may be the last time you see me," and has promised fans an unfiltered evening of laughter: "Some singalongs, inappropriate remarks, reminiscences of fame, fortune, rare footage and surprise guests."