A legendary star of the Monty Python comedy troupe has revealed he was taken to hospital twice in the space of 72 hours.
Eric Idle, 82, rose to prominence in the 1970s after joining the Python group co-creating the sketch series Flying Circus, which ran between 1969 and 1974.
Through the late 70s and early 80s, Eric – along with John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin – starred in films such as The Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life.
Such an esteemed collection made legends of the big and small screens, while a song Eric wrote for Life of Brian’s soundtrack – Always Look On the Bright Side of Life – became an international hit.
Relations between the old Python friends haven’t been the best in recent years, but fans still adore each key member and look out for them individually.
Which is why Eric worried fans this week after he revealed he’d been rushed to hospital two times in three days after a sudden and unexpected health scare.
He wrote on X: ‘I’d like to thank all the doctors nurses and staff in the Cedars GI ward for their kindness and help to me today. The second time in three days.’
Eric is currently based in Los Angeles, California, and he thanked the hospital staff at the Cedars-Sinai medical centre before revealing the extent of his current health problems.
‘I think I’m suffering from gastroenteritis,’ he tweeted, before signing off with a message for his fans who were worried about him: ‘I love you people.’
Gastroenteritis is a common inflammatory condition and is often caused by a virus, but the symptoms can be nasty and difficult to deal with.
Vomiting (projectile) and diarrhea are usually the telltale signs, but patients can sometimes struggle with a high temperature and disorientation as well.
@SolitaryWasp sent good wishes to Eric, saying: ‘Wishing all good things for you. You’ve brought me many smiles!’
@AmyGravino reached out and said: ‘We love you too, Eric! I was just in L.A. this weekend and thought of you. Please take good care of yourself and get better soon.’
@JoeLeydon reminded the Monty Python comic: ‘Please take care of yourself. The world would be a less amusing place without you.’
Last year, Eric joked – in typically dry fashion – that he probably ‘shouldn’t be alive’ after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019, which left him needing surgery.
‘I’m lucky and I enjoy every moment.’
He added: ‘[I once worked on a] project called Death: The Musical and I asked my doctor which type of cancer I could use to finish off one of my characters.
‘He said, “Pancreatic cancer, it can finish people off in three weeks”. [10 years later] my doctor told me I had pancreatic cancer and I burst out laughing because I thought he must be joking.’
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