Cleese would prefer to be an animal than a peer

1 month ago 24th Jul 21:01

John Cleese has said he would rather have a primate named after him than receive a knighthood from the Queen of England.

The Monty Python comedian famously turned down a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honour from the British monarchy in 1996.

But the 68-year-old, a long time campaigner for the conservation of lemurs, has gladly allowed a new species of woolly lemur, the Avahi cleesei, to take his name.

He says, "I've had a species named after me. A Swiss guy discovered it. He called and asked if I will give permission to name it after me. I would rather have that than a knighthood or peerage".