Monty Python tickets at half price after mixed reviews

Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones prepare for their Monty Python reunion shows. Photo/AP

Tickets for Monty Python's "sold out" reunion shows are being offered at discount rates on ticket re-sale site Groupon in the UK.

The first performance at the O2 Arena in London, which holds 20,000 people, reportedly sold out in 42 seconds.

But the bargain basement website was offering top price £95 (NZ$185) tickets at half price for shows on four days next week.

It follows a previous two for one promotion on the site that even included the "sold out" July 1 show.

The Double 8 tickets website, which normally charges above face value for over-subscribed shows, said it was offering "great last-minute half-price deals" for Monty Python due to "World Cup cancellations".

The final show on July 20 will be screened live in cinemas and broadcast on the Gold television channel.

The show has received mixed reviews, with the Daily Express describing it as "comedy history in the making", while The Independent said it was "desperately lazy" and The Guardian said the jokes "have dated".

John Cleese, meanwhile, is expected to play the villain in a new comedy based on the television series Baywatch.

- Independent