Documentary about comedy legend John Cleese coming to York cinemas

A special John Cleese documentary is coming to cinemas in York. Photograph: Medium Sized Fish Productions Ltd
Meet the man behind comedy legend John Cleese, in new documentary film coming to York cinemas this November.
The iconic British comedian, one of the minds behind celebrated works such as Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, is inviting audiences to take a behind-the-scenes look at life on the road as an 85-year-old touring comedian.
In John Cleese Packs It In, join Cleese as he embarks on what may be his final European tour. Over the course of six weeks, the film captures Cleese reflecting on his career, which began in 1963, as well as life, fame, and growing older in the public eye.
John Cleese Packs It In will be showing at Everyman York, Vue York, Cineworld York and Picturehouse City Screen York on Thursday 13 November.
Watch an unfiltered Cleese as he battles various ailments, encounters chaotic travel and grapples with his own stubborn refusal to stop.
Commenting on Packs It In, John Cleese said, “For the first time, audiences will see a different side to me – not just the dashing, devil-may-care, devastatingly handsome bon viveur, but also the decrepit, addled, nasty old geriatric that my PR team work day and night to hide from the public.
“You will see with your own eyes what it’s really like for a moribund 85 year old to struggle through a 23-city European tour, desperately trying to squeeze a few laughs from audiences who are clearly disappointed that they’ve wasted their hard-earned cash on over-priced tickets.
“This hatchet job is not just shocking, it’s also hilarious, as audiences everywhere laugh, not with me, but at me.”
Throughout his career, which spans sox decades, John Cleese has helped usher in a new era of comedy with his genre-defining shows and films. From starting out with the Cambridge Footlights, to co-founding Monty Python and co-creating Fawlty Towers, to writing and starring in the Oscar-nominated A Fish Called Wanda, his wry, black humour has made him a global comedy icon.
As well as starring in fan-favourite roles in the Harry Potter, James Bond and Shrek franchises, Cleese has received two BAFTA Awards and an Emmy Award and has been nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
John Travers of CinemaLive, distributors of the film in cinemas, said: “We’re genuinely excited to be working alongside Medium Sized Fish Productions to share this incredible documentary about John Cleese in cinemas later this year.
“We can’t wait for audiences to meet the man behind the comedy legend.”
Tickets are available to be booked online here.




