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25th Apr 2024

John Cleese says he’s been spending £17k per year on stem cell therapy

Nina McLaughlin

“If you’re buying yourself a few extra years, I think it’s worth it.”

John Cleese has opened up about how he is combatting ageing.

The actor revealed that he has spent £17,000 every year over the last two decades on stem cell therapy to try and keep himself looking younger.

Stem cells are used widely in regenerative therapies for conditions such as Crohn’s disease, but they have anti-ageing benefits too.

The 84-year-old revealed that he has been undergoing the treatment for this reason.

Stem cells aid cell rejuvenation, and can help boost organ function and reduce the risk of age-related diseases.

In an interview with Saga magazine, Cleese opened up about what stem cell therapy has done for him.

“These cells travel around the body and when they discover a place that needs repair, they’ll then change into the cells that you want for repair, so they might become cartilage cells or liver cells,” he said, per The Independent.

“So I think that’s why I don’t look bad for 84.”

However, the Monty Python co-creator revealed that he spends £17,000 on the treatment every 12 to 18 months.

“But if you’re buying yourself a few extra years, I think it’s worth it.”

While in conversation with Saga, Cleese revealed that he is ‘ surprisingly poor’.

He blamed his ex-wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger, who was awarded £20m in their divorce settlement back in 2008, for the reason he is still working into his 80s.

 “Can you believe when I met her, I had a beautiful house in Holland Park and no mortgage and when I broke up with her, I had a flat in Sloane Square and a full mortgage? How they figured out she was worth $20m, I have no idea,” he said.

Cleese also said his marriage to 52-year-old jewellery designer Jennifer Wade keeps him young.

The pair’s 34-year age gap has raised some eyebrows, but Cleese explained why this doesn’t bother him.

“A lot of people comment and then the moment they actually see us together for two minutes they say ‘oh, I get it’ and it never arises again.

“What I love is that she’s 30 years younger than I am, but she keeps me young.

“I mean, it is sad to think I shall die some time before she will, but I’m in pretty good health.

“I’m not fit, but the way I put it is the doctors don’t yet know what I’m going to die of.”

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