Terry Jones of Mony Python

We have sad news to report this morning. Terry Jones, long time writer and performer with Monty Python’s Flying Circus, has been diagnosed with a particularly severe form of dementia. It’s called “primary progressive aphasia”, and it affects his ability to communicate. It’s so bad already that according to his spokesman, the 74-year-old is no longer able to give interviews.

Primary progressive aphasia is a disorder that makes you forget your vocabulary. It’s that situation where the word you want is on the tip of your tongue, but you just can’t quite retrieve it and use it. Now imagine that happening with almost every other word you want to say. That’s what’s happening to Mr. Jones.

Jones, who is from Colwyn Bay in north Wales, was a member of the legendary comedy troupe with Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and the late Graham Chapman.  He directed Monty Python’s Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life and co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Terry Gilliam.

Left-right: Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin

Jones is being given a BAFTA award for his lifetime contribution to the world of entertainment. The award was announced at the Bafta Cymru nominations party, ahead of the British Academy Cymru Awards on 2 October.

“Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations,” his spokesman said.

Hannah Raybould, director of Bafta Cymru, said: “We are very much looking forward to celebrating the work of Terry Jones during the ceremony with a look back at his work from 1969 to the present day.”

Jones had been working working with Sir Terry Pratchett’s family to script Discworld stories for TV. City Watch, nicknamed CSI: ANKH-MORPORK.

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