Monty Python star Eric Idle 'grateful to be alive' after surviving pancreatic cancer

Monty Python star Eric Idle has said he feels "grateful to be alive" after surviving pancreatic cancer.

The comedian recently revealed he was diagnosed with the illness – which has a low survival rate – around three years ago.

He said he was "incredibly lucky" because it was caught so early.

Read more: Monty Python returning to British TV for first time in 35 years

Asked on The Graham Norton Show how he feels about life now, he said: "I am definitely more grateful, grateful to be alive.

"I am very fortunate and hopefully I can do a bit of good by raising money for research."

Idle went on to appear in The Masked Singer in America and has shared that beating cancer was one of the things that inspired him to sign up.

Talking about revealing his diagnosis on the programme, he told TV star Norton that he hoped to raise awareness.

Discussing his time on the singing show, he said: "I asked Paul McCartney if I could sing Love Me Do.

"He said, ‘Yes of course you can,’ then joked, 'Do let me know me when it airs so I can be sure to miss it!'"

Earlier this month, Idle told Time: "About three years ago I was incredibly lucky: I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Lucky? One of the most lethal forms of cancer, how on earth was that lucky?

"Well, because it was found incredibly early.

"No, not before lunchtime, but before it had gone anywhere."

Read more: John Cleese says woke culture is having 'disastrous' impact on creativity in comedy

He had the tumour removed and no further trace of the disease was found.

The Graham Norton Show is on BBC One tonight (30 September) at 10.40pm and is also available on BBC iPlayer.

Watch: John Cleese reveals why he would have to re-write Fawlty Towers now