John Cleese writing memoirs

Monty Python comedian-and-actor, John Cleese, is writing The Maintenance Memoirs to pay off a divorce settlement from third wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger. Photo / Supplied

John Cleese is writing his memoirs.

The Monty Python comedian-and-actor is penning a book in order to help fund his £12.2 million divorce settlement from third wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger.

The book, to be entitled The Maintenance Memoirs, will be written by John with an official biographer, with them each taking it in turns to write a page. The book is thought to be able to command an advance of around £2 million (NZ$4.1 million) from potential publishers.

John told The Sun newspaper: "I don't think anybody's ever done one like this. I'd been putting it off - partly because I was too busy, and also because it was too difficult trying to remember things."

The 71-year-old star has previously said he needs to earn about £1 million (NZ$2.06 million) a year to pay off the settlement and he is currently on a comedy tour of the UK, dubbed The Alimony Tour, which finishes on July 2.

- BANG! Showbiz