Monty Python announce five more dates to 2014 reunion

The shows were added after tickets for the first concerts sold out in 55 minutes

Flying again: Monty Python (Getty Images)

Monty Python have announced five more dates to their comeback ‘tour’, after five other shows sold out in less than an hour on Monday.

The comedic group, who last week announced they were making a return to the stage after 30 years, will play the five added dates in July at London’s O2 Arena.

The dates will take place on 15, 16, 18, 19 and 20 July, with tickets for the added gigs going on sale on Friday from 10am.

The Pythons added four more dates on Monday following the success of their initial one-off gig, which sold out in 43.5 seconds.

More than 70,000 tickets for the four shows sold out in 55 minutes when they went on sale earlier this week.

John Cleese said the group were touched that so many fans wanted to see “such old people” perform.

“The response to our planned reunion has been very, very silly. But, we're all touched that so many fans still want to see such old people perform. So we're delighted to be adding more dates to the run at the O2,” he said.

The group said they would not rule out the possibility of adding more dates when they announced their one-off gig last week.

They said the concert would include some new comedy sketches, but would mostly include familiar material.

Eric Idle said fans could ”expect a little comedy, a lot of pathos, some music and a tiny bit of ancient sex“.

The concerts will see the John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones return to the stage for the first time in over thirty years.

Their last major live show was at the Hollywood Bowl in 1982.

Sixth Python Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989 aged just 48, and nine years later the five remaining members shared a stage at the Aspen Comedy Festival in the US.

They said they would miss performing with Chapman but he would have a presence on-screen during the show.

Idle said: ”We've told him we're going on and if there is a God, he'll be turning up.“