Comedy great John Cleese is in talks to return to the BBC for a sitcom which has been written specifically for him, according to reports.

The Fawlty Towers and Monty Python star, 76, had previously said he would never work for the corporation again, saying its commissioning editors had “no idea” what they were doing.

Graham Norton Show, John Cleese
John Cleese (Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images)

But, Shane Allen, the BBC’s head of comedy, told the Daily Telegraph: “We’re in discussions about a piece that he might be in. He’s a comedy god, and the door is always open to him.

“There are certain people who have earned their badges, who have got the right to do what they want.”