Cleese delighted with lemur honour

Rex Features

John Cleese has revealed that having a species of lemur named after him is more important than a knighthood or a peerage.

The Monty Python star, who has long supported conservation of the lemur, made the admission while appearing at Bristol Zoo Gardens to discuss fundraising, the Press Association reports.

He said: "I've had a species named after me. A Swiss guy discovered it. He called and asked if I will give him permission to name it after me.

"I would rather have that than a knighthood or peerage."

The Avahi cleesei lemur was discovered in Madagascar by anthropologist Urs Thalmann of Zurich University.

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