Monty Python troupe will rally around Terry Jones as he battle dementia, says Michael Palin

Michael Palin has said the Monty Python comedy troupe will rally around Terry Jones as he battles dementia.

Welsh-born Jones, 74, is suffering from primary progressive aphasia, which is a form of dementia that affects his ability to communicate.

Palin, 73, told the Radio Times he had been aware Jones' memory was failing for a number of years.

He said: "This is progressive and the loss of the ability to speak is one of the things it brings.

"I grew up with a father who stammered and that was difficult enough for him. But for words just not to even be there, not to utter anything, it's a terribly sad thing to befall anyone.

"I saw John (Cleese) yesterday and there's nothing much we can do but stand there and say, 'Oh God, what has happened to our friend?' But the Pythons will rally round."

Palin and Jones were members of the famous group, which also included Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman.

Jones directed Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. Alongside Gilliam, he co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail.