Monty Python will announce reunion at Thursday press conference

Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The five surviving members of comedy group Monty Python are planning a Thursday press conference to announce that they will reunite for a stage show.

"We're getting together and putting on a show -- it's real," Terry Jones confirmed to BBC. "I'm quite excited about it. I hope it makes us a lot of money. I hope to be able to pay off my mortgage!"

Along with Jones, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin are all expected to appear at the London press event. The sixth Python, Graham Chapman, died in 1989.

The last time the five remaining members appeared together was at the Aspen Comedy Festival in 1998.

Idle tweeted information about the press conference out to fans.

The first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus was broadcast on October 5, 1969. The sketch comedy group went on to produce five films, including Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

There is some speculation that in a addition to a stage show, a film or TV deal could be in the works.

[BBC] [Hollywood Reporter]