Spamalot has been backed by all the surviving Pythons

All the surviving original Monty Python members - Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and John Cleese - will appear on the show.

It will follow Spamalot's transfer from New York to London's Palace Theatre.

Other South Bank Shows will look at actor Robbie Coltrane, singer George Michael and writer JG Ballard.

Autumn lineup

Spamalot, which is based on the 1975 film Monty Python And The Holy Grail, has moved to London after a record-breaking run on Broadway, during which it won three Tony awards.

George Michael will be followed as he prepares for his world tour

It was written by Idle and has been backed by the four other surviving Pythons - all of whom will be interviewed in the South Bank Show special.

The South Bank Show, which is presented and edited by Melvyn Bragg, is ITV's major arts series.

The struggling network is hoping to revive its fortunes with a strong Autumn lineup of programmes - which includes the drama series Cracker, starring Robbie Coltrane.

Coltrane will also be the subject of one of the shows, looking at both the revival of the highly successful series - in which he plays forensic psychologist Eddie Fitzgerald - and his role as the giant Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

Writer Irvine Welsh, artist Damien Hirst and Wallace And Gromit creator Nick Park are also set to be subjects featured in the series.