(CNN) -- A series of cryptic tweets and a news conference announcement have sparked speculation that the five surviving members of British comedy troupe Monty Python may be about to reunite.
They are holding the news conference in London on Thursday.
Member Eric Idle tweeted Tuesday that there was a "Python meeting this morning," after tweeting Monday: "Only three days to go till the Python press conference. Make sure Python fans are alerted to the big forthcoming news event."

The public relations agency that sent out the invitations to the news conference declined to confirm it was to announce a reunion, saying: "All will be revealed on Thursday."
Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and the late Graham Chapman became comedic legends with the creation of Monty Python's Flying Circus in October 1969.

They produced 45 TV episodes for the BBC and five feature films together before going their separate ways in 1983.
The shows mostly consisted of a string of barely coherent sketches, often lacking conventional punch lines and loosely tied together by Gilliam's stream of consciousness animations.
The group dressed as old ladies, dressed as transvestite lumberjacks, performed sketches about pompous middle class men, used catchphrases such as "And now for something completely different," and sang amusing ditties such as "Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam ..."

Although the TV show ran for only four seasons, it proved a massive cult hit when it was shown in the United States beginning in 1974 -- just as the show was winding up on the other side of the Atlantic.

That success spawned a series of spin-off productions, including the films "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," the Bible-baiting "Monty Python's Life of Brian" and "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" as well as "Live at the Hollywood Bowl."

Many of today's comedians cite Python as a key influence, and its influence can be seen in comedy shows including "The Daily Show" and "The Simpsons."

 Paradigm wrote:
I do hope this is true, the Pythons really are one of the greatest comdey acts ever (rivalled in my opinion only by the Two Ronnies and Rowan Atkinson's stuff). I'm sure that whatever they're doing will be great, fingers crossed it's a proper reunion.

 Mr. Burning wrote:

 Paradigm wrote:
I do hope this is true, the Pythons really are one of the greatest comedy acts ever (rivalled in my opinion only by the Two Ronnies and Rowan Atkinson's stuff). I'm sure that whatever they're doing will be great, fingers crossed it's a proper reunion.

And they are best left as they are.

You really want to see cash desperate Cleese forcing the laughs?

 timetowaste85 wrote:
I'd love to see something else, if they can make it great. If they can't, they should leave our memories of them as flawless perfection. Also, my lady friend has never seen Monty Python anything, is a huge but over British everything, so I know what her Christmas present is this year...holy grail time.

London (CNN) -- It's confirmed: Monty Python isn't quite dead yet.
The British comedy troupe's five surviving stars will perform live at London's O2 arena on July 1 -- its first show on stage together since appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in September 1980, the group announced Thursday.
Tickets will go on sale on Monday, with further details expected to be announced on the troupe's website montyphythonlive.com.
Member John Cleese said at a news conference Thursday that the show will have some new material, but it will have many old bits -- some featured in perhaps new ways -- that fans will expect.
"I remember going to the Royal Albert Hall and seeing Neil Diamond where he got booed in the second half for singing new numbers. People really do want to see the old hits, but we don't want to do them exactly in a predictable way, so it's going to be a mix-up, I think," Cleese said.
Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and the late Graham Chapman became comedic legends with the creation of Monty Python's Flying Circus in October 1969. They produced 45 TV episodes for the BBC and five feature films together before going their separate ways in 1983.
The shows mostly consisted of a string of barely coherent sketches, often lacking conventional punch lines and loosely tied together by Gilliam's stream of consciousness animations.
Although the TV show ran for only four seasons, it proved a massive cult hit when it was shown in the United States beginning in 1974 -- just as the show was winding up on the other side of the Atlantic

 filbert wrote:
I hope it's not true. I fear any reunion will be forced and stilted and not funny. Monty Python should remain in our memories where it is forever fresh and funny.