Roughly 47 years since he first took to the stage, John Cleese, the writer and star of Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, has finally embarked on his first ever solo tour of the UK.

“I’m here because I need the money,” begins Mr Cleese, before demonstrating with vitriolic aplomb the exact extent to which he was taken to the cleaners by his latest ex-wife and her lawyers.

The former Python recounts his life as a ‘lower-middle-upper-middle-middle class’ boy in an exceptionally boring town, through a career that amassed legions of fans and made him an endearing icon as the pinnacle of British wit.

He discusses with candid and sometimes bitter humour the difficult relationship with his mother, and delves into the reasons why he has always been attracted to the darker side of comedy.

Cleese’s slick delivery and innate sense of comedic timing never falters, and the routine is punctuated with photographs of his life and career, as well clips of his greatest and most memorable routines.

While he relies rather heavily on these past glories at times, his audience responds with delight, and it is difficult to imagine anyone begrudging such indulgence.

Consistently using words such as ‘silly’ and ‘naughty’ when describing his mischievous career, the Minister for Silly Walks shows genuine warmth during his reminiscences, often resembling the kind of grandfather most people would sell a vital organ for.