Former Monty Python star Michael Palin will virtually join the cast of hit London musical Spamalot when he plays God for one week between 26 and 31 August.
Palin’s pre-recorded role – usually played by fellow Python and co-creator of the stage show Eric Idle – comes as part of the production’s Summer of Charity Gods, which has seen Barbara Windsor, Hugh Bonneville, Bradley Walsh, Simon Callow and Christopher Biggins don the heavenly robes for a week at a time, each donating their appearance fee to a charity of their choice. The omnipresent baton will be passed to former Gavin And Stacey star Larry Lamb following Palin’s appearance.
The cloud-based role is a new one for Palin, who previously played many of the parts recreated on stage, including the King of Swamp Castle, a Knight who says Ni and a French taunter, when he appeared in Monty And The Holy Grail, the film on which the musical is based.
The musical, which has been running at the Playhouse theatre since November 2012, follows the adventures of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they search first for a purpose and then the Holy Grail, tackling obstacles including a Black Knight who never knows when he’s beaten and a homicidal rabbit.
Former Family Fortunes host Les Dennis is currently playing the famed King of the Britons, with British theatrical icon Bonnie Langford as his Lady of the Lake. They will be joined from 23 September until 19 October by Warwick Davis, star of Life’s Too Short, Willow and Return Of The Jedi.
So popular has the comic musical proved since its return to the West End in July 2012, when it opened at the Harold Pinter theatre before transferring to the Playhouse, that it has once again extended its booking period. It will now run at the Charing Cross venue until 8 February 2014.