‘Surprisingly poor’ John Cleese, 85, is set to buy a house in Bath with his fourth wife – after giving her his £1.5m Chelsea flat

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Monty Python star John Cleese, is hoping to buy a home in Bath, close to where he grew up.

Cleese, aged 85, maintains that he is surprisingly financially modest, having resided in Monaco previously and currently dwelling in Nevis, a Caribbean location free of income tax.

In April, he announced that he had given his £1.5 million flat in Chelsea to his fourth wife, Jennifer Wade, as a gesture to ensure her security. It appears that they spend most of their time in London, but it seems they are now considering moving to the West Country, as they are house hunting there. While speaking at Clifton College, a private school in Bristol where he attended as a child and pays £19,000 per term, Cleese expressed his affinity for the West Country, stating that “my home is the West Country.” He further added that he and his wife are seriously considering purchasing a property in Bath. Reminiscing about his time in Weston-super-Mare, he lamented the lack of peaceful, friendly lives and good behavior found there compared to present times.

The concept originating from America suggests that if you aren’t wealthy or influential – or a combination of both – then your life is considered unsuccessful. I strongly disagree with this notion, as I believe it to be very harmful.

In 2016, John Cleese purchased a property in Bath’s Royal Crescent, but by 2018, this flat was once again available for sale as he moved to Nevis after leaving the UK. Ever since his divorce from his third wife, Alyce Faye Eichelberger, in 2008, Cleese has spoken about financial struggles. It is said that she received a $20 million settlement, and just two years ago, Cleese mentioned that he was still making payments on this amount.

The actor from Fawlty Towers admitted his persistent annoyance about this topic during his recent interview on Lorraine, where they discussed the stage adaptation of the famous TV show.

In a more conversational style, the sentence could be rephrased as: During John’s comedy tour in 2011 for his alimony stand-up, Kate Garraway (the temporary host of the ITV talk show at that time, aged 57) mentioned him, as he was none other than John Cleese who portrayed Basil Fawlty.

She recalled his first comment onstage: ‘I’m doing this for the money, to pay for the exes.’ 

Cleese commented about his former wife Eichelberger, saying, “I was required to pay her $20 million [£15.5 million]. Here’s some guidance for everyone: Be mindful…

‘If you’re going to have an expensive divorce, have it when you’re 40, not when you’re 70!’

Garraway responded somewhat uneasily, saying, “So, it looks like you’ll need to continue working when you’d probably prefer to unwind instead.

Cleese admitted: ‘Indeed, you seem to be idle, and that’s my preferred method of spending time.’

The actor has tied the knot a number of times over the years. 

He was married to Eichelberger between 1992 and 2008, and Barbara Trentham between 1981 and 1990. 

His first marriage was to his Fawlty Towers co-star Connie Booth in 1968 and lasted a decade. 

In 2023, Cleese stated that he was still making payments from a past settlement with Eichelberger, and he had earlier expressed that this agreement left him in a financially disadvantaged position compared to her.

In the initial part of his solo performance in Singapore, John addressed the crowd of 1,200 people, expressing that he felt compelled or obligated to perform on stage.

He mentioned that it seems like you might be wondering why a senior English comedian is present in Singapore instead of being in his oxygen tank back in London resting.

‘Well, I’ll tell you the reason. I’ll show it to you.’

Displaying an image of his former spouse on a massive display, he said, “Here’s my ex-wife, making her daily walk to pick up her alimony.

Did you hear she received a twenty-million-dollar payment from me? Incredible, isn’t it? That’s right, no kids involved – just a hefty sum of twenty million dollars.

‘The awful thing about that is that you give them ten, then you’ve still got another ten to go.

If she had settled for a fifteen million dollar deal, I would have been ready for bed by now.

Rather than having the option, I’m compelled to continue as a globally recognized megastar, a comedic titan, a cherished national landmark, and an enduring legend.

Instead of being able to choose otherwise, I must carry on being extremely famous, well-known for comedy, respected like a national treasure, and still admired as a living icon.

As a devoted admirer and fellow member of the legendary Monty Python comedy group, I echo Eric Idle’s sentiments expressed last month. At 82 years old, his perspective is particularly insightful. He believes that we, the original cast members, should express more gratitude for the ongoing financial success derived from our collective work as a troupe.

Eric Idle, renowned for his work, created the musical theater production “Spamalot,” which is inspired by the 1975 movie “Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail.

The primary Monty Python cast members, such as Terry Gilliam, aged 84, and Michael Palin, aged 82, along with Cleese and Idle, are still receiving funds from the ongoing productions.

After Idle admitted in February that there was a disagreement within the group, he later stated that the production had proven to be financially unsuccessful.

In an interview with The Guardian, he expressed that they have received significantly more money than they’ve ever known how to handle gracefully. Despite having millions at their disposal, they continue to exhibit unpleasant and ungrateful behavior.

The comedian went on saying, “I worked for Python for twenty years, followed by a stint of two years on the O2 show. They stayed for a fortnight.

To set the record straight, I must admit that monetary gains don’t truly inspire me. In truth, the producers are the ones who reap most of the financial rewards, as per our agreement.

‘Someone sued us for years, saying I was paying the Pythons money from my back pocket. 

‘And I said, “Why would I risk going to an American jail to give John Cleese more money?”‘

Idle believed that when the team was collaborating, they frequently had disagreements and disputes, yet he considered this discord beneficial for their results.

‘Some things in Python were very enjoyable and some were not,’ he shared.

The Holy Grail was dreary and chilly, yet at times, its desolation could be amusing. A key aspect to avoid in humor is an overabundance of wealth.

Working with Python can sometimes be filled with debates, disputes, and even intense discussions – but it often results in quality output. The most appealing aspect of the entertainment industry is when it wraps up.

If you’re genuinely having a good time, it suggests that you’re not pretending or putting on a show, but simply being yourself. However, what you’re doing isn’t amusing to me.

Monty Python gained popularity through their BBC comedy sketch show titled “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” which ran from 1969 until 1974.

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2025-08-08 12:20