Comedy legend’s documentary coming to Tavistock and Okehampton cinemas next month

A new documentary following comedian John Cleese on what may be his final tour will be shown at Tavistock Wharf and New Carlton Cinema in Okehampton next month.

The feature-length film, John Cleese Packs It In, will be screened in more than 350 cinemas across the UK from 13 November 2025.

It captures Cleese, now aged 85, as he performs in 16 cities over six weeks, reflecting on his life, career, and the challenges of touring at his age.

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The film offers what producers describe as “a raw, hilarious and intimate” look at the veteran performer, whose career spans more than six decades.

Known for Monty Python, Fawlty Towers and A Fish Called Wanda, Cleese has been a defining figure in British comedy since the 1960s.

Speaking about the film, Cleese said: “For the first time, audiences will see a different side to me, not just the dashing, devil-may-care, devastatingly handsome bon viveur, but also the decrepit, addled, nasty old geriatric that my PR team work day and night to hide from the public.”

He added: “You will see with your own eyes what it’s really like for a moribund 85-year-old to struggle through a 23-city European tour, desperately trying to squeeze a few laughs from audiences who are clearly disappointed that they’ve wasted their hard-earned cash on over-priced tickets.”

The film also traces Cleese’s long career, from his days with the Cambridge Footlights and Monty Python, through to his roles in Harry Potter, James Bond, and Shrek.

John Travers of CinemaLive, distributors of the film in cinemas, said: “We're genuinely excited to be working alongside Medium Sized Fish Productions to share this incredible documentary about John Cleese in cinemas later this year. We can't wait for audiences to meet the man behind the comedy legend.”