A long-standing dispute between two celebrated British performers has resurfaced after more than six decades.
John Cleese and Miriam Margolyes, both distinguished alumni of Cambridge’s comedy scene, have reignited their feud following comments made during a recent media appearance.
The conflict originated during their university years at Cambridge in the early 1960s.
Margolyes, now 85 and originally from Oxford, appeared in a 1962 Footlights production and shared her recollections during an interview on The Romesh Ranganathan Show.
According to her account, her experience with the troupe proved unpleasant, with certain male members of the ensemble treating her with considerable coldness.
Margolyes specifically identified both John Cleese and Graham Chapman as being particularly harsh in their conduct toward her.
She described the situation as deeply hurtful, explaining that she had not received an invitation to a cast gathering, prompting her to raise the issue before ultimately attending.
She indicated that forgiveness had never truly followed.
Despite this criticism, she acknowledged both men as talented individuals, though she suggested they possessed deficiencies in certain human qualities, concluding with a pointed remark about Cleese’s current age and comedic abilities.
Cleese, aged 86, addressed the matter publicly after segments from the interview gained traction online.
In his version of events, he characterised his younger self and colleagues as reserved individuals from modest backgrounds who had simply never encountered someone with her particular manner.
He maintained that no mistreatment occurred and that they simply maintained distance.
Regarding Margolyes’s suggestion that Bill Oddie had contributed to the problematic atmosphere, Cleese contested this claim, noting that Oddie had not participated in that particular show.
The disagreement traces back to events occurring approximately 64 years prior.