Monty Python star John Cleese yesterday revealed he would rather have a lemur species named after him than receive a knighthood or peerage.

And he also took a swipe at his home town of Weston-super-Mare.

The comic actor returned to Bristol Zoo Gardens to discuss conservation, his childhood in the West Country and three fundraising performances to be held within the grounds of the zoo.

Cleese, who went to school at Clifton College visited the nearby zoo as a boy and fell in love with lemurs at an early age.

The 68-year-old, well known for his role as Basil Fawlty in BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers, came face to face with one of his favourite creatures at the zoo today – Colin the red ruffed lemur.

Cleese has been back to visit the zoo on several occasions and has championed lemur conservation for many years.

As a result of his campaigning work, a new species of woolly lemur was named after him – Avahi cleesei.

The animal was discovered in Madagascar by Urs Thalmann of Zurich University.

Speaking at the zoo, Cleese – who declined a CBE in 1996 – said having the species named after him was a higher honour than a knighthood.

He said: “Well, I've had a species named after me. A Swiss guy discovered it. He called and asked if I will give him permission to name it after me. I would rather have that than a knighthood or peerage.”

He added: “They're the sweetest little creatures. They never snatch food from you.”

Cleese, who was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, said when he studied at Clifton College he would frequently walk around the zoo gardens and head straight for the lemurs.

The comedian was less than impressed when he was asked about his hometown of Weston-super-Mare.

He said: “I was very disappointed. It's really not very beautiful anymore. There used to be bits of it that were lovely.”

Keith Morris, Weston Town Council leader, said: “I am very disappointed that he should make such disparaging remarks about his home town.”

But Mr Cleese also seemed to indicate he thought people who lived in the Somerset town would agree with him.

He said: “The Westonians are aware of it and I think they are going to start doing something about it. It was very sad to see it – very unattractive.”

Mr Cleese will give three performances from tonight to July 25 at the Clifton Pavilion at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Each evening will include an on-stage conversation between John and television presenter Chris Serle, followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions. All the proceeds from these performances will help fund the zoo's current and future conservation and education projects.

Meanwhile, a West primate rescue centre was celebrating yesterday after opening its first conservation project to rehabilitate monkeys back into the wild.

Monkey World, based in Wool, Dorset, helps governments around the world combat the illegal smuggling of primates. The Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre in Vietnam is the first centre Monkey World has opened in-situ. It has taken seven years to bring to fruition and is part of the late Jim Cronin's legacy, founder of Monkey World.

Endangered primates at the centre will be rehabilitated and released back into the surrounding forests of the Cat Tien National Park.

It will be the first time that Monkey World has helped return a primate it has saved back into the wild.

Six golden-cheeked gibbons who were rescued from a motorway rest stop and a small schoolyard menagerie are the first residents.

The centre will also house black-shanked douc langurs, silvery langurs and nocturnal primates called loris.

At the moment there are 10 rehabilitation cages set in the forest. Phase two, yet to be built, will see semi-wild enclosures to help return the primates back to the wild.