Monty Python star and film director Terry Jones has dementia

The comedy star and film director delivered one of Python's most famous lines: "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"

Terry Jones's condition has affected his ability to speak
Image: Terry Jones' condition has affected his ability to speak
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Monty Python star Terry Jones has been diagnosed with dementia.

The 74-year-old comedian is suffering from primary progressive aphasia, which affects his ability to speak.

Jones was one of the original members of the ground-breaking Python comedy team, which first appeared on television in 1969. 

The shows ran for 45 episodes through the 1970s.

Terry Jones, centre, and the rest of the team in 2009
Image: Terry Jones (C) and the rest of the team in 2009

He directed the films Life Of Brian and The Meaning Of Life, and he co-directed Monty Python And The Holy Grail with Terry Gilliam.

John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman completed the troupe, which reunited most recently in 2014 for a series of shows.

Chapman died in 1989 at the age of 48.

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Jones has the distinction of delivering possibly the most famous line in all of Python history, as Brian's mother Mandy in Life of Brian.

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"He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!" is a line which has been voted the funniest in film history on two occasions.

Bafta Cymru has announced Jones is to receive a special award for outstanding contribution to film and television.

The Monty Python team imitate journalist and broadcaster Alan Whicker
Image: Jones (R) in 'Whicker Island', a Python sketch from the 1970s

A spokesman for the comedian, who was born in Wales, said: "Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia.

"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."

Jones has just completed his latest novel The Tyrant and the Squire.