Patrons for the friends group included Peter Stringfellow, Sir Derek Jacobi and Michael Palin.

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Celebrities such as Bianca Jagger, Michael Palin and Joanna Lumley have spoken out against the mining project.

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But John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Michael Palin are all in, as is Terry Jones, who will be directing.

FORBES: New Monty Python Movie Announced...With Robin Williams

The appeal was launched on Thursday by actor Rufus Sewell, broadcaster Michael Palin, journalist John McCarthy and actress Juliet Stephenson.

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Presenter, writer and Monty Python star Michael Palin will be awarded a Bafta fellowship at its TV awards on 12 May.

BBC: Michael Palin to receive Bafta fellowship

Actors Jeremy Irons, Terence Stamp and Monty Python star Michael Palin take to the stage alongside Strummer to give readings throughout the charity evening on 10 November.

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His other production credits include TV film The Wind in the Willows, which was voiced by the likes of Vanessa Redgrave, Michael Gambon, Michael Palin and Alan Bennett.

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But just hours after it was launched with a fanfare by comedian Michael Palin, almost four out of 10 pictures were replaced with a message saying they were unavailable for copyright reasons.

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Michael Palin and Charlie Higson will be among his guests and, on Friday 15 March, he will be joined in the BBC Radio Theatre by a live audience, presenter and actor Adam Buxton and comedian Tim Vine.

BBC: French and Saunders 'hijack' Radio 2 for Comic Relief