Monty Python, the world's busiest comedians, have reluctantly decided that 20 July 2014 at The 02 London will (probably) be their last live performance together.
The tickets for this show have been held back pending this decision and will now go on sale at 12 noon tomorrow, Friday 4 April.
The Pythons had hoped to take up some of the many offers to perform at arenas all over the world, but individual commitments to other projects over the next three years have apparently made this impossible.
The Pythons - John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin,Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones - are well aware of the nostalgic appeal of their show, and are promising a catalogue of all the favourite sketches, with production design by the same creative team who devised the Olympic closing ceremony.
The Last Night of the Pythons Live: 20 July 2014
Full Performances Schedule: 1 – 5, 15 – 16 & 18 – 20 July 2014
Venue: The O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX
You can register for the latest Python news at MontyPythonLive.com
Monty Python Over The Years
Television Programmes - Monty Python's Flying Circus - 1973(01 of32)
John Cleese in a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch. (credit:PA)
Television Programmes - Monty Python's Flying Circus - 1972(02 of32)
Eric Idle and John Cleese in a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch. (credit:PA)
Entertainment - Ethiopian Famine Concert - Royal Albert Hall(03 of32)
Graham Chapman of Monty Python fame, outside the Royal Albert Hall where he will appear in a concert to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine victims. (credit:PA)
Television Programmes - Monty Python's Flying Circus - 1969(04 of32)
John Cleese in Monty Python's Flying Circus (credit:PA)
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Monty Python's Flying Circus comedy team are award(11 of32)
CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 19: Monty Python's Flying Circus comedy team are awarded the Special Jury Prize for their film 'The Meaning of Life' at the 1983 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes 19 May 1983. (In background British actor James Mason) (Photo credit should read GATTI-DUVAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Michael Palin.(12 of32)
Michael Palin pictured after the reforming of Monty Python. (credit:PA)
Stage and Screen. Entertainment. Personalities. pic: circa 1987. American born film-maker Terry Gilliam, one of the stars of the cult comedy TV. programme of the 1970's "Monty Python's Flying Circus", who created the animations.(13 of32)
Stage and Screen, Entertainment, Personalities, pic: circa 1987, American born film-maker Terry Gilliam, one of the stars of the cult comedy TV, programme of the 1970's 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', who created the animations (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Terry Jones;Terry Gilliam;Eric Idle(14 of32)
Actors from Monty Python troup (L-R) Eric Idle, Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam at party celebrating troup's 20th anniversary, at Hard Rock Cafe. (Photo by Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Stage and Screen. Entertainment. Personalities. pic: 1989. The stars of the cult comedy TV. programme of the 1970's "Monty Python's Flying Circus" back row, left-right, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman. Front 3, left-right, Terry Jones, Michael Pali(15 of32)
Stage and Screen, Entertainment, Personalities, pic: 1989, The stars of the cult comedy TV, programme of the 1970's 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' back row, left-right, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Front 3, left-right, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Television Programmes - Monty Python's Flying Circus - 1969(16 of32)
Terry Jones, right, and John Cleese, putting on costumes for a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch. (credit:PA)
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Terry Gilliam;Graham Chapman [Misc.];Michael Palin [Misc.];Eric Idle;Terry Jones;John Cleese [Misc.](18 of32)
Comedians (L-R) Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle & Terry Jones eating popcorn & celebrating 20th Anniv. of Monty Python's Flying Circus; Museum of Broadcasting. (Photo by Mario Ruiz//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Stars' Faces At Gerardmer Film Festival In Gerardmer, France In February, 1994.(19 of32)
FRANCE - FEBRUARY 01: Stars' Faces at Gerardmer Film Festival In Gerardmer, France In February, 1994 - Terry Gilliam, director. (Photo by Francis DEMANGE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Cast members of the Monty Python troupe(20 of32)
Cast members of the Monty Python troupe arrive at the Ziegfield Theater on October 15, 2009 to celebrate their 40th anniversary, receive a Special Bafta Award, and attend the premier of the IFC documentry 'Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut)'. From left are: John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Spamalot - West End Premiere(21 of32)
LONDON - OCTOBER 17: (L-R) Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle arrive at the VIP West End premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot held at the Palace Theatre on October 17, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Spamalot - West End Premiere(22 of32)
LONDON - OCTOBER 17: (L-R) Eric Idle,Terry Gilliam,Michael Palin and Terry Jones arrive at the VIP West End premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot held at the Palace Theatre on October 17, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
British comedian, actor and author John(23 of32)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: British comedian, actor and author John Cleese (L) of Monty Python fame is wrapped in a real python with Australia's leading lady of song and dance, Caroline O'Connor (R), at Sydney's Taronga Zoo, 06 January 2006. Cleese, age 66, is in Australia on holidays as well as to promote various zoo conservation projects for endangered species. AFP PHOTO/Torsten BLACKWOOD (Photo credit should read TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Opening Night Of "Monty Python's Spamalot" After Party(24 of32)
NEW YORK - MARCH 17: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Monty Python members Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam attend the opening night after party for 'Monty Python's Spamalot' at Roseland Ballroom March 17, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Opening Night Of "Monty Python's Spamalot"(25 of32)
NEW YORK - MARCH 17: The original members of Monty Python Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and John Cleese attend the opening night of 'Monty Python's Spamalot' at the Shubert Theatre March 17, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
"We Will Rock You" North American premiere at Paris Las Vegas(26 of32)
LAS VEGAS - SEPT 8: Eric Idle of Monty Python fame arrives at the 'We Will Rock You' North American premiere at Paris Las Vegas Le Theatre de Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada September 8, 2004 (Photo by Chris Farina/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Spamalot court case(27 of32)
File photo dated 16/10/2012 of Broadcaster Michael Palin dismissed a suggestion today that a film producer was a seventh member of the Monty Python comedy team. (credit:PA)
Graham Chapman plaque unveiled(28 of32)
Terry Jones (left) and Michael Palin attend the unveiling of a British comedy society plaque outside The Angel Inn in Highgate, London, dedicated to former Monty Python star Graham Chapman. (credit:PA)
Terry Jones(29 of32)
Former Monty Python star, writer and film director Terry Jones at his south London home. (credit:PA)
Monty Python Stars Attend Hopathon Guiness World Record Attempt(30 of32)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Former 'Monty Python' actors Michael Palin (R) and Terry Jones attend a 'Hopathon' world record attempt on Hampstead Heath athletics track on March 3, 2012 in London, England. The comic actors joined participants completing a 400 metre hop to mark the 35 year anniversary of their 'Ripping Yarns' television series which featured a 30 mile hop in the episode 'Tomkinson's School Days'. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Lemur named after Python star(31 of32)
Monty Python star John Cleese feeds grapes to Colin the red ruffed lemur, during a visit to Bristol Zoo Gardens. (credit:PA)
Monty Python/30th Anniversary(32 of32)
Monty Python stars (L-R) Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese and Michael Palin at a photocall in London's Leicester Square, where they reunited to celebrate their 30th anniversary by attending a charity screening of their film Life Of Brian. * ...to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief as a tribute to their late partner Graham Chapman who died a decade ago. Eric Idle was notable by his absence following an apparent fall-out. (credit:PA)