John Cleese leaves The One Show hosts squirming after pretending he does not know who they are
John Cleese left viewers cringing during an awkward exchange on The One Show after joking that he had no idea who the programme’s presenters were.
The 86-year-old comedy legend appeared on Tuesday’s episode to discuss the enduring legacy of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Cleese was interviewed by Roman Kemp, 33, and Lauren Laverne, 48, but quickly turned the conversation into one of his own jokes.
John Cleese plays along with the awkward introduction
The moment came shortly after Roman and Lauren introduced the evening’s guests, which also included Grace Dent, Shakira Khan and Jay McGuinness.
After the group received applause, Cleese looked towards Roman and said: “I like this show, what’s your name?”
Roman introduced himself, prompting Cleese to respond with another joke.
“I’ve ever known only one Roman – Roman Polanski,” he said.
Roman pointed out that Polanski was “another famous Roman”, but Cleese continued with the gag and repeated the remark.
He then turned his attention to Lauren and asked: “Who’s your friend?”
Lauren introduced herself, completing the exchange.
It was clear that Cleese was deliberately teasing the presenters, but some viewers found the interaction uncomfortable and felt Roman and Lauren struggled to match his humour.
One viewer wrote on X: “Awkward chatter with John Cleese.”
Another said: “He’s toying with them and they don’t know how to respond.”
Cleese preparing for Monty Python tour
The appearance comes as Cleese prepares to take Monty Python and the Holy Grail back to venues across England.
He will introduce screenings of the classic film as part of a tour titled John Cleese and the Holy Grail.
The tour is scheduled to run from September 1 to September 22, with 18 dates in total.
