John Cleese tells The One Show hosts he does not know them

Actor John Cleese left The One Show presenters Roman Kemp and Lauren Laverne stunned on live television after admitting during an interview on Tuesday night that he had no idea who they were.

The 86-year-old Fawlty Towers star appeared on the BBC magazine program alongside fellow guests Grace Dent, Shakira Khan, and Jay McGuiness to chat about his various projects before making the unexpected comments.

After co-hosts Kemp, 33, and Laverne, 48, had introduced everyone on set, Cleese suddenly looked over at Kemp and said: "I like this show, what's your name?"

When Kemp gave his name, Cleese looked confused and responded: "Well I've ever known only one Roman - Roman Polanski." Taken aback, Kemp replied: "Yes another famous Roman..."

Cleese then pointed over at Laverne and asked: "Who's your friend?" Laverne then gave her name, to which Cleese replied that it was a nice moniker. Laverne was left speechless for a minute and gave a rather awkward look around the studio room.

The One Show is a long-running live broadcast on BBC One featuring celebrity interviews, consumer stories, and topical features. Kemp, a radio broadcaster and television presenter, joined the main presenting lineup in 2023, while Laverne is an established radio DJ and host of Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4.

Viewers split over dry humor

While the interaction appeared to be a demonstration of Cleese's usual dry comedy, many viewers watching on X thought the segment was uncomfortable to watch.

One viewer penned on the social platform: "Awkward chatter with John Cleese." Another wrote: "Whatever was this about has John Cleese lost the plot how embarrassing."

However, others believed Cleese was simply pretending not to know the presenters' names to make the television segment funny.

One viewer wrote on X: "This is just what John is like in interviews. He never makes it easy for the interviewer and it's hilarious." Another added: "I thought he was quite funny, which was obviously intended..." while a third viewer commented: "He's playing with them, old school humour."

Monty Python reunion announced

The television appearance comes twelve years after Monty Python's 2014 comeback shows at the O2 arena in London, which included late member Terry Jones and were widely considered at the time to be the comedy group's final performances together.

However, back in June, Cleese announced surprise plans for another revival featuring co-stars Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, while excluding estranged member Eric Idle.

Speaking to Daily Mail columnist Richard Eden about reuniting in late 2026, Cleese said: "Sir Mickey Palin, Terry Gilliam and I are discussing doing some entertainment towards the end of this year, if only to prove that we are all alive - if we still are."

Monty Python was formed in 1969 and became one of Britain's most influential comedy troupes. The original lineup consisted of Cleese, Palin, Gilliam, Idle, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman. The group achieved international acclaim through their BBC sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus and feature films including Monty Python and the Holy Grail in 1975 and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life in 1983. Chapman died in 1989, and Jones passed away in 2020.

Tour dates and ongoing clash

Plans for the upcoming stage project have since been finalized under the title John Cleese and the Holy Grail. The tour will run from September 1 to September 22, encompassing 18 dates in total.

Discussing the format of the upcoming show, Cleese explained: "The excellent Holly Gilliam is exploring venues, and finding dates when Sir Mickey may be available. He's much in demand, unlike the rest of us." He added: "The event will be a wonderful opportunity to insult each other, and to discuss at length each other's faults."

However, Idle, 83, will not participate and is no longer on speaking terms with the surviving members following a bitter public fallout over the management of the group's finances.

Last September, Cleese publicly spoke out against "bullying" Idle after Idle issued public criticism of Python manager Holly Gilliam, who is Terry Gilliam's daughter.