The Pythons were pleased to join in the fun of the premiere

It is director Gilliam's first film for seven years and tells the tale of two travelling con artists, starring Matt Damon and Heath Ledger as the Grimms.

They encounter a genuine fairytale curse which requires courage instead of their usual bogus exorcisms.

The Monty Python team were famed for their zany humour and irreverent films.

Gilliam has directed several films since his Python days

The movie has had mixed reviews so far, and Gilliam was said at Venice film festival in September: "I like the fact that my films have always encouraged bad and good reviews.

"The most depressing thing would be a review that was just mediocre. That would kill me."

Damon and Ledger both said they needed "no sales pitch" to agree to appearing in the movie.

Gilliam's previous films include Twelve Monkeys, Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.