MONTY PYTHON’S Michael Palin has paid touching tribute to his friend and co-star Terry Jones, saying the progress of his dementia is “painful to watch”.
On Friday, it was announced that Jones has been diagnosed with a severe form of dementia which affects his ability to communicate - the BBC reports that as a result, he is no longer able to give interviews.
The 74-year-old directed several of the Monty Python films, including Life of Brian, and as recently as 2015 was writing and directing films and documentaries.
The news was met with sadness from lovers of the troupe, including their many celebrity fans:
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Michael Palin has paid tribute to Jones on his Facebook page, saying his illness is the “cruelest thing” that could happen to his friend:
The news announced yesterday that he has a type of aphasia which is gradually depriving him of the ability to speak is about the cruelest thing that could befall someone to whom words, ideas, arguments, jokes and stories were once the stuff of life.
Palin said this doesn’t mean that Jones is “out of circulation” – in fact, they met up earlier this week for a meal at his local pub.
Terry doesn’t say very much but he smiles, laughs, recognises and responds, and I’m always pleased to see him. Long may that last.
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