Editing Eric Idle (section)

===Post-Python career (1973–present)===
[[File:Eric Idle (2).jpg|thumb|Eric Idle in 2003]]
After the success of Python in the early 1970s, all six members pursued solo projects. Idle's first solo work was his own [[BBC Radio 1|BBC Radio One]] show, ''Radio Five'' (pre-dating the real [[BBC Radio 5 (former)|Radio Five]] station by 18 years). This ran for two seasons from 1973 to 1974 and involved Idle performing sketches and links to records, playing nearly all the multi-tracked parts himself.

On television, Idle created and wrote ''[[Rutland Weekend Television]]'' (RWT), a sketch show on [[BBC Two|BBC2]] with music by [[Neil Innes]]. RWT was 'Britain's smallest television network'. The name was a parody of [[London Weekend Television]], the independent television franchise contractor that provided Londoners with their [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] services at weekends; [[Rutland]] had been England's smallest county, but had recently been 'abolished' in an administrative shake-up. To make the joke complete, the programme went out on a weekday. Other regular performers were [[David Battley]], [[Henry Woolf]], [[Gwen Taylor]] and [[Terence Bayler]]. [[George Harrison]] made a guest appearance on one episode.

A legacy of RWT was the creation, with Innes, of [[The Rutles]], an affectionate parody of [[the Beatles]]. The band became a popular phenomenon, especially in the U.S. where Idle was appearing on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''&nbsp;– fans would send in Beatles LPs with their sleeves altered to show the Rutles. In 1978, the Rutles' [[mockumentary]] film ''[[All You Need Is Cash]]'', a collaboration between Python members and ''Saturday Night Live'', was aired on [[NBC]] television, written by Idle, with music by Innes. Idle appeared in the film as "Dirk McQuickly" (the [[Paul McCartney]]-styled character of the group), as well as the main commentator, while Innes appeared as "Ron Nasty" (the band's stand-in for [[John Lennon]]). Actors appearing in the film included ''Saturday Night Live''{{'s}} [[John Belushi]], [[Bill Murray]] and [[Gilda Radner]], as well as fellow Python [[Michael Palin]], and also real musicians of the 1960s such as former Beatle [[George Harrison]], as well as [[Mick Jagger]] and [[Paul Simon]]. Idle wrote and directed the Rutles comeback in 2008 for a live show ''Rutlemania!'' to celebrate the 30th anniversary.<ref>[http://www.rutles.org/rnews301.html Original Rutles reunite for 30th anniversary], Vol 3 Issue 1, 3 March 2008, Rutles News</ref> The performances took place in Los Angeles and New York City with a Beatles tribute band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flavorpill.com/newyork/events/2008/3/26/the-rutles|title=Rutlemania|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080401011616/http://flavorpill.com/newyork/events/2008/3/26/the-rutles|archive-date=1 April 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=4 November 2008}}</ref>

In 1986, Idle provided the voice of Wreck-Gar, the leader of the Junkions (a race of robots built out of junk that can only speak in film catchphrases and advertising slogans) in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. In 1987, he took part in the [[English National Opera]] production of the [[Gilbert and Sullivan]] [[comic opera]] ''[[The Mikado]]'', in which he appeared in the role of the Lord High Executioner, Ko-Ko; a performance of it was taped by Thames Television for broadcast, directed by John Michael Phillips, and subsequently released on DVD by A&E. In 1989, he appeared in the U.S. comedy television series ''[[Nearly Departed]]'', about a ghost who haunts the family inhabiting his former home; the series lasted for six episodes as a summer replacement series.

{{Quote box|width=29%|align=left|quote="Idle has always, it seemed, been happy to have been a Python, happy to talk about Python, happy to revisit the group's glory days. Even though he has gone on to his own work – dozens of films, plays, TV shows, albums, books and screenplays – he is perhaps the most active standard-bearer for the group. It was Idle who toured extensively in 2000 and 2003, performing Python songs with a band and back-up singers. He went on the road with the ''Eric Idle Exploits Monty Python Tour'', then with the ''Greedy Bastard Tour'', which was documented extensively on the Python website he launched in 1996."|source=—Dave Eggers in ''[[The Guardian]]'', September 2006.<ref name="Eggers"/>}}

Idle received good critical notices appearing in projects written and directed by others&nbsp;– such as [[Terry Gilliam]]'s ''[[The Adventures of Baron Munchausen]]'' (1989), alongside [[Robbie Coltrane]] in ''[[Nuns on the Run]]'' (1990) and in ''[[Casper (film)|Casper]]'' (1995). He also played Ratty in Terry Jones' version of ''[[The Wind in the Willows (1996 film)|The Wind in the Willows]]'' (1996). However, his own creative projects&nbsp;– such as the film ''[[Splitting Heirs]]'' (1993), a comedy he wrote, starred in and executive-produced&nbsp;– were mostly unsuccessful with critics and audiences.

In 1994, Idle appeared as Dr. Nigel Channing, chairman of the Imagination Institute and host of an 'Inventor of the Year' awards show in the [[3-D film|three-dimensional film]] ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!]]'', which was an attraction at the [[Imagination! (Epcot)|Imagination Pavilion]] at [[Walt Disney World]]'s [[Epcot]] from 1994 until 2010 and at [[Disneyland Park (Anaheim)|Disneyland]] from 1998 until 2010. The film also stars [[Rick Moranis]] and other members of the cast of the 1989 feature film ''[[Honey, I Shrunk the Kids]]''. In 1999, he reprised the role in the short-lived second incarnation of the [[Journey into Imagination]] ride at Epcot, replacing [[Figment (Disney character)|Figment]] and Dreamfinder as the host. Due to an outcry from Disney fans, the attraction was reworked in 2001, reintroducing Figment into the ride while also retaining Idle's role as Nigel Channing. Idle is also writer and star of the 3-D film ''Pirates&nbsp;– 4D'' for Busch Entertainment Corporation.

In 1995, Idle appeared in ''[[Casper (film)|Casper]]'' opposite [[Cathy Moriarty]] and voiced [[Rincewind|Rincewind the "Wizzard"]] in [[Discworld (computer game)|a computer adventure game]] based on [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' novels. In 1996, he reprised his role as Rincewind for [[Discworld 2|the game's sequel]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/09/25/discworld-ii-mortality-bytes|title=Discworld II: Mortality Bytes!|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=24 September 1997}}</ref> and composed and sang its theme song, "That's Death". In 1998, Idle appeared in the lead role in the poorly received film ''[[Burn Hollywood Burn]]''. That same year, he also provided the voice of Devon, one of the heads of a two-headed dragon, with [[Don Rickles]] as the other head Cornwall, in the [[Warner Bros.]] [[animated film]] ''[[Quest for Camelot]]'', and as Slyly, the albino Arctic fox in ''[[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie]]''.

In recent years, Idle has provided voice work for animation, such as in ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut]]'', in which he voiced Dr. Vosknocker. He has made four appearances on ''[[The Simpsons]]'' as documentarian [[Declan Desmond]]. Idle provided the voice of [[Merlin (Shrek)|Merlin the magician]] in the [[DreamWorks Animation|DreamWorks]] animated film ''[[Shrek the Third]]'' (2007) with his former Python co-star John Cleese, who voiced [[King Harold (Shrek)|King Harold]]. He has also narrated the audiobook version of ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'' by [[Roald Dahl]].<ref>{{cite book |last=McCall |first=Douglas |title=Monty Python: A Chronology, 1969–2012, 2d ed. |date=2013 |publisher=McFarland |page=166}}</ref>

In late 2003, Idle began a performing tour of several American and Canadian cities entitled ''The Greedy Bastard Tour''.<ref name="Eggers"/> The stage performances consisted largely of music from Monty Python episodes and films, along with some original post-Python material. In 2005, Idle released ''The Greedy Bastard Diary'', a book detailing the things the cast and crew encountered during the three-month tour.<ref name="Eggers"/>

[[File:Nudge, Nudge O2 Arena.jpg|thumb|Idle (right) and [[Terry Jones]] performing the "[[Nudge Nudge]]" sketch at the Python reunion in 2014]]

In 2004, Idle created ''[[Spamalot]]'', a [[Comedy music|musical comedy]] based on the 1975 film ''Monty Python and the Holy Grail''. The medieval production tells the story of [[King Arthur]] and his Knights of the Round Table as they journey on their quest for the [[Holy Grail]].<ref name="Eggers"/> ''Spamalot'' features a book and lyrics by Idle, music by Idle and [[John Du Prez]], direction by [[Mike Nichols]], and choreography by [[Casey Nicholaw]].<ref>[http://montypythonsspamalot.com/creators.php ERIC IDLE], Monty Python's ''Spamalot'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809122909/http://montypythonsspamalot.com/creators.php |date=9 August 2013}}</ref>

Idle's play ''[[What About Dick?]]'' was given a staged reading at two public performances at the [[Ricardo Montalbán Theatre]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] on 10–11 November 2007. The cast included Idle, [[Billy Connolly]], [[Tim Curry]], [[Eddie Izzard]], [[Jane Leeves]], [[Emily Mortimer]], [[Jim Piddock]] and [[Tracey Ullman]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Eric Idle asks 'What About Dick?' |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974601.html?categoryid=15&cs=1 |url-status=dead |work=Variety |date=23 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024204345/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974601.html?categoryid=15&cs=1 |archive-date=24 October 2007}}</ref> The play returned on 26–29 April 2012 in the [[Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles)|Orpheum Theatre]], most of the cast returning with the exception of Emily Mortimer, who was replaced by [[Sophie Winkleman]]. [[Russell Brand]] also joined the cast. The play was made available for digital download on 13 November 2012.

Idle performed at the [[2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony]] at the [[London Stadium|Olympic Stadium]] in London on 12 August, singing "[[Always Look on the Bright Side of Life]]".<ref name =olympics1/><ref name =olympics2/> He was the creator and director of the live show ''[[Monty Python Live (Mostly)|Monty Python Live (mostly)&nbsp;– One down, Five to go]]'' which took place at [[the O2 Arena]], London, between 1 and 20 July 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cavendish |first=Dominic |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/10940401/The-almost-definitive-guide-to-Monty-Python-Live-Mostly.html |title=The almost-definitive guide to Monty Python Live (Mostly)|date=2 July 2014 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=21 July 2014}}</ref>

In December 2016, Idle was the writer and co-presenter of ''The Entire Universe'', a "comedy and musical extravaganza with the help of [[Warwick Davis]], [[Noel Fielding]], [[Hannah Waddingham]] and [[Robin Ince]], alongside a chorus of singers and dancers", broadcast by BBC Two.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Entire Universe |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b086kfbj |publisher=BBC |date=26 December 2017 |access-date=27 December 2016}}</ref>

In 2020, it was announced that Idle would adapt his script for ''Spamalot'' into a feature film for [[Paramount Pictures]], with Nicholaw directing and [[Dan Jinks]] producing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr. |last2=Kroll |first2=Justin |title=Paramount Acquires Monty Python Musical 'Spamalot'; Casey Nicholaw Directing Eric Idle Script |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/spamalot-paramount-pictures-movie-musical-eric-idle-casey-nicholaw-monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-1234665944/ |date=6 January 2021 |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref>

In 2022, Idle competed in [[The Masked Singer (American TV series) season 8|season eight]] of ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' as "Hedgehog". He did a cover of [[the Beatles]]' "[[Love Me Do]]" with help from the [[USC Trojan Marching Band]]. When eliminated in the first episode alongside [[William Shatner]] as "Knight" and [[Chris Kirkpatrick]] as "Hummingbird", Idle mentioned to [[Nick Cannon]] that he had to get approval from [[Paul McCartney]] to do "Love Me Do" for a competition in exchange that McCartney knows what the competition in question is so that he can avoid it. In addition, Idle did an unmasked performance of "[[Always Look on the Bright Side of Life]]" from ''[[Life of Brian]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/hedgehog-the-masked-singer-revealed/|title=Eric Idle shares why he did The Masked Singer after secretly beating cancer|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Lauren|last=Huff|date=September 22, 2022|access-date=September 5, 2024}}</ref>

In February 2024, Idle made headlines in the UK after revealing that he was still working at the age of 80 for financial reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68246210|title=Eric Idle: Monty Python star working at 80 for financial reasons|website=BBC News |date=12 February 2024|access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>