John Cleese will receive the Rose d’Or award for Lifetime Achievement in Berlin next month, and the comedy veteran has said he is “delighted” with the accolade.
The Fawlty Towers star has been chosen as the winner of the prestigious award by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for his outstanding contribution to entertainment broadcasting throughout his career, which has spanned over five decades.
John, 76, shared his pride at winning the prize in his typical joke-filled manner, cheerfully teasing one of his Monty Python co-stars in the process.
John Cleese will pick up the Rose d’Or Lifetime Achievement award in Berlin in September (Bjorn Sigurdson/AP/PA)
He said: “I am delighted by this chance to annoy Terry Gilliam and I’m also very humbled by the offer of an all-expenses-paid holiday in Berlin.”
Jean Philip De Tender, the EBU’s Media Director, said that “no one is more deserving” of the award.
He said: “[John] has been making audiences around the world laugh for 50 years and his writing and instantly recognisable performances have contributed to some of the best and funniest entertainment on television and in film.”
.@JohnCleese will pick up a Lifetime Achievement Award in Berlin! Can't wait for the speech! https://t.co/h3B8lp8JTW pic.twitter.com/GvdkBTUR21
— Rose d'Or (@RosedOr) August 16, 2016
John is best known for writing and starring in sitcom Fawlty Towers and co-founding and appearing in surrealist comedy group Monty Python since the 1960s.
The British actor also appeared in A Fish Called Wanda, two Harry Potter films and two James Bond movies.
He previously won a Rose d’Or in 1967 for his appearance in BBC programme Frost Over England.
Monty Python stars, left to right: John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam (Andy Gotts/PA)
The Rose d’Or awards, which were first presented in 1961, recognise the best in entertainment programming across television, online video and radio.
The 55th annual Rose d’Or Awards ceremony will take place in Berlin on September 13.
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