JOHN CLEESE - JOHN CLEESE SIGNS UP FOR WILL + GRACE

British comedy legend JOHN CLEESE has joined the cast of American sitcom WILL + GRACE - over 25 years after he axed his acclaimed series FAWLTY TOWERS.

Cleese will play LESTOR FINSTER - the father of British actress MINNIE DRIVER's character LORRAINE FINSTER - in six episodes of the new series.

The MONTY PYTHON star won critical reverence for his comedy about irate hotelier BASIL FAWLTY in the seventies sit-com but decided to end the series after just 12 episodes.

And Cleese's reputation was a major influence on casting officials for the DEBRA MESSING-starring comedy.

Executive JEFF GREENSTEIN enthuses, "He's just a magnificent actor, and he knows funny. In terms of the comedic rhythms of Will + Grace - we're hyperverbal - it just seems like the kind of comedy that he would naturally fit with."