United Kingdom, June 20 -- John Cleese would refuse a knighthood if he was offered the British honour.

The Monty Python star previously turned down the offer of a CBE and a peerage and he is adamant that if the Honours Committee and King Charles selected him for the most prestigious accolade and make him "Sir John Cleese" he would say no to the title because he doesn't need, nor want, the validation.

When asked if he would turn down a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List, he said: "I would. I simply don't need that sort of validation.

"It's enough for me to know - because people often tell me - that I've helped them through difficult times by making them laugh. They come home, turn on an episode of Fawlty Towers and the world does...