Robin Williams appreciation by Terry Jones: 'He could have had a huge ego, but he didn't'

It was 2010 and Bill (my son) and Ben Timlett had just been nominated for an Emmy, for directing (along with Alan G Parker) Monty Python: Almost the Truth The Lawyer's Cut. I was supposed to go with them and introduce them on stage. I arrived at the hall, and who should be sitting in the front row but Robin Williams. I had met him a couple of times, and went up to him and re-introduced myself. And asked him if he'd like to voice Dennis the Dog for Absolutely Anything[Jones's forthcoming film]. He agreed at once. I later sent him the script, and he emailed me back: "Let's get this film made now!"

Alas! Four years later we finally got the money to make the film. We had Mojo the Dog playing Dennis, and doing it brilliantly. If only Robin Williams could do the voice we'd be over the moon. I emailed him with a sinking heart, fearing that so much time had elapsed and he may not want to voice Dennis. But I need not have feared. He wrote back that he was up for voicing the dog.