MONTY Python star John Cleese has revealed he would rather have a lemur species named after him than receive a knighthood or peerage.

Cleese, who went to school at Clifton College, near Bristol Zoo Gardens, fell in love with lemurs at an early age.

The 68-year-old comic actor, who has championed lemur conservation for many years, returned to the zoo and came face-to-face with one of his favourite creatures - Colin the red ruffed lemur.

As a result of his campaigning work, a new species of woolly lemur was named after him - Avahi cleesei. Speaking at the zoo, Cleese - who declined a CBE in 1996 - said having the species named after him was a higher honour than a knighthood.