John Cleese says critics ‘who can’t themselves direct, write, act, sing or dance’ should be replaced

Comedian said creatives and performers were ‘less envious than critics’

Comedian John Cleese has suggested that actors and creatives should replace “ignorant” critics who can’t “claim any kind of expertise”.

The Monty Python star shared his thoughts on Twitter on Tuesday (28 July) using the example of former cricket players who had now become commentators, asking: “Could the same principle now be applied to the Arts?”

He continued: “Instead of having ‘critics’ who can’t themselves direct, write, act, sing, dance or claim any other kind of expertise, would we not get superior commentary from people who can?

“Why should artistic criticism from untalented people be preferred to that of outstandingly talented ones,” he questioned, suggesting that performers were “less envious than critics”, who are “astonishingly ignorant about process”.

Cleese’s tweet prompted an array of responses, with one fan writing in agreement: “One great thing about Roger Ebert (besides being a really good and informed writer) is that he did write Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and see it get made. He was the rare critic who got the sword bloody.”

However, another wrote: “Different skill sets. In the same way that people who put out fires aren’t necessarily arsonists.”

The outspoken 80-year-old actor recently condemned UKTV for their “stupid” decision to remove an episode of hit sitcom Fawlty Towers from its streaming platform for its use of “racial slurs”.