‘like losing a limb’
SIR Michael Palin broke down in tears as he commemorated his close friend and co-star Terry Jones, who died at the age of 77.
The 76-year-old described his pal's death as like “losing a limb” as he recalled their 58-year friendship which started when they met at Oxford University in 1962 and spanned their incredibly successful careers.
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Terry "gently slipped away" on Tuesday evening after a five year battle with a rare form of dementia.
In the very emotional interview, Sir Michael said: “It’s sort of like losing a limb. I’ve known dear Terry since I met him at university in 1962, I think, and we performed at the Edinburgh Festival, the first time we actually wrote and performed material together in 1964.
“And we were inseparable for many, many years after that, writing, acting, through the Python times.
"And even in the last few years when Terry was doing his thing, I was doing my thing, we’d still meet up.
“We were still very close friends and I valued Terry’s opinion probably more than any other. He was very, very astute.”
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Overcome with emotion, he continued: “Oh I shall miss the sociable Terry… sorry… I just miss putting my arm round him and having a drink. He was just a wonderful companion, terrific companion.
“So I shall miss our trips to the bar. I shall miss our pints and I shall miss our sessions at setting the world to rights, you know.
“He had his view, I had my view, but he was the most wonderful friend and just a terrific person to be with.”
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Welsh-born Terry had suffered from a form of dementia which affects the ability to communicate.
He directed the film Monty Python And The Holy Grail in 1975 with Terry Gilliam.
The group's Life Of Brian film in 1979, about a hapless man mistaken for Jesus, was attacked as blasphemous at the time but has since been voted the funniest classic comedy.
On screen, Terry’s much-loved characters included Arthur "Two Sheds" Jackson, Cardinal Biggles of the Spanish Inquisition, and Mr Creosote, the monstrously obese restaurant patron.