Ain't necked yourself?
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www.smh.com.au
Cleese tirade upsets Kiwis
John Cleese has upset the mayor of Palmerston North by calling the city the "suicide capital".
Comedian John Cleese has upset officials of a New Zealand city by describing it as the country's "suicide capital".
Cleese said he had a "bloody miserable time" in the North Island city of Palmerston North during a live show tour of New Zealand last year.
The Monty Python and Fawlty Towers star made the comments in an audio diary on his website about the My Life, Times and Current Medical Problems tour, which he will take to Australia later in the year.
Cleese heaped praise on other towns and cities where he performed, but introduced Palmerston North as the "suicide capital of New Zealand".
"If you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick," Cleese said.
"We stayed in a little motel, the weather was grotty, the theatre was a nasty shape and the audience was very strange to play to.
"We had a thoroughly, bloody miserable time there and we were so happy to get out."
The mayor of Palmerston North, about 150km north of Wellington, was not amused.
"Obviously he still has trouble with his medical problems and may need some more medication," Heather Tanguay told the Manawatu Standard newspaper.
Tourism official Julia Sanson said: "We are just sorry that John didn't have more time in Palmerston North and the Manawatu region to form a qualified opinion.
"I think we all know not to take him too seriously," she told the paper.
However, some of the city's businessman see opportunity in Cleese's views.
"Boring Palmy ... let's build on that," joked chamber of commerce chairman Paul O'Brien, suggesting tours of Palmerston North's dullest places and meetings with resident bores.
AAP
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