Sir Michael Palin has told how he accidentally set fire to his house while trying to relax following his heart surgery.
The comedy legend, 76, had open-heart surgery to repair two valves last September and was advised to relax for three months.
But while recuperating at home, some paper in his kitchen caught alight and his neighbour had to pull him out of the window.
Writing in Idler magazine, the Monty Python star said: “I leapt up and grasped a hand towel, which briefly smothered the flames before itself catching alight.
“As flames licked up towards the ceiling, I dialled the emergency services, I couldn’t hear a word they were saying.
"Just caught something about washing my hands which made me realise that, without my glasses on, I’d rung 111 instead of 999.
“But I washed my hands anyway, and by a fantastic stroke of luck, the loose tap that we never had fixed came apart, dousing the ceiling and partially extinguishing the fire.”
He added: “At this point my neighbour, who’s 86 and had a by-pass, wrenched up the window and pulled me to safety.”
Sir Michael previously revealed he now feels like a "one previous owner Golf GTI" instead of an "old Ford Anglia" as he recovered from the surgery.
Doctors at a London hospital had initially discovered he had a leaking valve.
The TV travel host, who was knighted last June, thanked well-wishers who sent cards and emails of encouragement.
He said: "I'm sure you speeded up the recovery. Now, excuse me while I get back to doing nothing."
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