Monty Python have bid farewell to their fans in the last of their live shows at London's O2, watched by admiring stars from the world of comedy.

Michael Palin, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones played five nights at the venue, where they put on a collection of their most famous sketches to sell-out crowds.

Finishing the last show with their most recognisable song, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, the Pythons were watched by fellow comedians and celebrities including Eddie Izzard and Dr Brian Cox.

Mike Myers said: "They are just the best comedy troupe that ever was and we all kind of wish that we had a tenth of that impact. I've often joked that Monty Python were the Beatles of comedy, but I actually think that Monty Python are the Monty Python of comedy."

Sanjeev Bhaskar talked about the effect the group had had on his career: "I'm hugely influenced by them, I don't think you can be involved in comedy and not be influenced by the Pythons.

"I did Spamalot in the West End and doing that was extraordinary, because I was just repeating lines on stage that I used to do in the playground with my friends."

When the Pythons announced that they would be putting on the live shows, their first date sold out in just 43.5 seconds and they are each expected to have earned around £2 million from the venture, which also included a cinema broadcast of the final show and a screening on TV channel Gold.

Reece Shearsmith said: "Very great minds at work, I can't believe they all found each other and created this work. It's extraordinary."

Sixth Python Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989.