The Chase star slams Monty Python legend John Cleese after 'worst speech I've ever seen'

The Chase star, who is known as 'The Sinnerman', said the incident led to mounting "confusion" (Image: Brett Cove/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Paul Sinha has slammed Monty Python actor John Cleese after he allegedly gave what the quizzer has dubbed the "worst speech I've ever seen".

The Chase star, who is known as 'The Sinnerman' on the beloved ITV quiz show, opened up about a speech made by the Fawlty Towers star at an awards function, reports the Daily Mail.

Paul, who is also a comedian, claimed that the 'Fish Called Wanda' funnyman presented the audience with a "catalogue of bitterness", with the incident leading to mounting "confusion".

He said: "It was the worst speech I've ever seen. A catalogue of bitterness that nobody in the room could understand. There was increasing confusion in the room as to why anyone so objectively successful could possibly be so unhappy with his lot."

It wouldn't be the first time that Cleese has spoken his mind, having recently taken a swipe at his former Monty Python co-star Eric Idle, who reportedly claimed that Cleese "fired" their manager, Jim Beach.

Paul claimed that John Cleese gave the “worst speech I've ever seen” (Image: Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

It was reported in September that Idle had tweeted earlier in 2024 that he'd not seen Cleese for "seven years",but added that the distance made him "happy".

In response to a fan who said they'd thought the pair had been friends, Idle said: "I don’t mind but once they put (Terry) Gilliam's daughter in as Manager and Cleese fires Jim Beach, well it’s over." (sic)

However, Cleese hit back by saying it was an "invention". He went on to say that Jim became the Python manager after the O2 show, but he had a health condition.

He added: "About four years ago he suffered a bad stroke and subsequently resigned as our manager. His number 2, Holly Gilliam, automatically took over as Python manager."

Paul said Cleese presented the audience with a “catalogue of bitterness” (Image: Kate Green/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Paul Sinha recently took aim at his fellow Chasers' nicknames while hosting the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards. Paul, who stars alongside Shaun Wallace, Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty, Darragh Ennis, and Jenny Ryan, joined the show in 2011.

Commenting on his own nickname, The Sinnerman, he told the audience at the Roundhouse in North London that it was "s***" and "means nothing", reports The Sun.

He went on to say that he'd "dodged a bullet" when considering the nicknames of his co-stars, The Governess, The Vixen, The Menace, The Beast, and The Dark Destroyer.

He continued: “I’m the only Chaser who’s not named after a sex toy. I have to tell you that hours of research went into that joke.”