Eric Idle

Eric Idle (Born March 29, 1943) is a comedian, actor and film director, as well as an author and accomplished guitarist/songwriter. He wrote and performed as part of the Monty Python team.

University Life

Eric Idle attended Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge, where he studied English. At Pembroke College he was invited to join the prestigious Cambridge University Footlights Club by fellow Pembroke College students, the then 1963 President of the Footlights Club, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Footlights Club member Bill Oddie.

Related Topics:
Pembroke College - University of Cambridge - Cambridge University Footlights Club - 1963 - Tim Brooke-Taylor - Bill Oddie

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I'd never heard of the Footlights when I got there, but we had a tradition of college smoking-concerts, and I sent in some sketches parodying a play that had just been done. Tim Brooke-Taylor and Bill Oddie auditioned me for the Footlights smoker, and that led to me discovering about and getting into the Footlights, which was great".{{ref|Perry}}

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eric Idle became President of the Footlights Club in 1965. Other Monty Python members of the Cambridge University Footlights Club were John Cleese and Graham Chapman.

Related Topics:
Monty Python - Cambridge University Footlights Club - John Cleese - Graham Chapman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With regard to the other Monty Python members, both Terry Jones and Michael Palin attended the University of Oxford, while Terry Gilliam attended Occidental College in the United States.

Related Topics:
Monty Python - Terry Jones - Michael Palin - University of Oxford - Terry Gilliam - Occidental College - United States

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the 1960's period, the combined comedy students of both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge became known as the Oxbridge Mafia.

Related Topics:
University of Oxford - University of Cambridge - Oxbridge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Further information

Further information regarding this, and about Eric Idle, can be found in the following books:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• From Fringe to Flying Circus - 'Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960-1980' - Roger Wilmut, Eyre Methuen Ltd, 1980.
• Footlights! - 'A Hundred Years of Cambridge Comedy' - Robert Hewison, Methuen London Ltd, 1983.
  (The preface for "Footlights!" was written by Eric Idle).