Entertainment

Monty Python performs last show ever at London's O2 Arena

The five surviving members of Monty Python took their final bows in London Sunday after 50 years of performing as the iconic comedy troupe.

Eric Idle, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam performed for their last time together

John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones took their final bows as Monty Python last night in London after 50 years of performing as the iconic comedy troupe.

The emotional finale was the last of their farewell stage shows in London’s O2 Arena, and the surviving pythons said it would be their final performance together ever.

Michael Palin performs the famed lumberjack song on the closing night of Monty Python Live (Mostly) at The O2 Arena on July 20, 2014 in London, England. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

The men, who are all in their 70s, performed some of their best-loved material including their famous lumberjack song and the dead parrot sketch.

Surprise guests included self-professed Python fans like British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and Canada’s own Mike Myers.

On the red carpet before the show, Myers told Reuters how he was influenced by the famous funnymen:

"Python are the mack daddy of comedy. I mean if there was a periodic table of elements of comedy Python would have Pythonium...everybody who does anything, you know, are influenced by Python."

About 15,000 people watched the sold-out show from the O2 Arena, but the festivities were also simulcast to thousands of movie theatres around the world, including a cinema in Calgary.

When weather knocked out their satellite feed, the audience carried on the finale themselves singing Always Look On the Bright Side of Life.

Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, John Cleese and Terry Jones perform on the closing night of Monty Python Live (Mostly) at The O2 Arena on July 20, 2014 in London, England. (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

With files from Reuters