Michael Palin has taken to social media to discuss the pain in watching his friend of over 50 years, Terry Jones, deal with dementia. 

It was revealed earlier this week that Jones has been suffering from primary progressive aphasia which affects the ability to communicate.

Palin and Jones are of course members of Monty Python along with John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman and Eric Idle. Jones wrote and directed many of the group's best loved works. 

In a moving Facebook post, Palin shared a picture of the pair out at dinner and explained how the condition is affecting both Jones and their friendship.

“the cruellest thing that could befall someone to whom words, ideas, arguments, jokes and stories were once the stuff of life."

He clarified that although Jones is affected by the condition he is not "out of circulation" and the pair regularly meet for meals at his local pub. 

“Terry doesn’t say very much but he smiles, laughs, recognises and responds, and I’m always pleased to see him. Long may that last.”

Via The Guardian