Monty Python reunion show sells out in 43.5 seconds

LONDON (AFP) ― Monty Python added another four dates to their “one-off” reunion show on Monday after 14,500 tickets to their first London live performance sold out in just 43.5 seconds.

John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin announced their surprise return to the stage last week, sparking huge excitement among fans of the comedians who have not performed together since 1980.

The cult British troupe said they only planned to do one show at the O2 Arena in London on July 1, and Idle said the intention was “to see if we can fill it.”

But the promoters were clearly prepared for the huge demand and added four additional shows when the tickets went live.

All five dates sold out within an hour ― and some 65-pound tickets for the first night were immediately posted on re-sale sites for a whopping 1,600 pounds ($2,600).

“The first show sold out in 43.5 seconds. Four further shows immediately went on sale: 2-5 July. All shows sold out within 55 minutes,” a spokesman for Monty Python told AFP.

Idle said: “It’s totally amazing. I don’t think we realized quite how much Python is loved round the world.”