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'Monty Python' star Terry Jones' dementia so bad he 'can no longer speak'

HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 14:  Actor Terry Jones attends the American Cinematheque presents Monty Python's Terry Jones in conversation with Edgar Wright held at the American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre on December 14, 2014 in Hollywood, California.  (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)
Terry Jones was diagnosed with dementia in 2015 (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)

Terry Jones’ dementia has become so bad he can reportedly no longer speak - but he can still laugh.

Terry Gilliam, 78, has ruled out a reunion with fellow Monthy Python’s Flying Circus members Michael Palin, 76, Eric Idle, 76, and John Cleese, 79, as Jones would not be able to take part. Jones, 77, was diagnosed with dementia in 2015.

Gilliam told the Daily Star: “There’s no chance of us doing a reunion. There’s only four of us left that really function now. And that is not Python, so there’s no point.”

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His close friend Palin revealed last month that on a recent visit he read aloud to Jones from the book Dr Fegg’s Encyclopeadia Of All World Knowledge, which they co-wrote together.

Palin noted: “He can say very little these days, but he can and did laugh as I read some of the pages. And what really impressed me was that he laughed only at the things he’d written!”

Jones has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a form of frontotemporal dementia which effects speech and communication. Concerns for his health were first raised during the Monty Python reunion show Monty Python Live (Mostly) in July 2014 when he struggled to learn his lines.

Announcing his diagnosis in 2015, a representative said: “Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia.

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“This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews.

“Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations.”

Fellow Python John Cleese hit the headlines last week when he accused London of not being “an English city any more.”

He later defended his comments as “culturalist” rather than “racist.”