John Cleese has been upsetting the locals of a town in New Zealand that he stopped in as part of a tour of the nation last year.

In a recent audio entry in his online diary he labelled Palmerston North as the suicide capital of the country.

The month-long tour was specifically written for his return trip to the country after an invitation from New Zealand producer Adrian Bohm. Cleese called the show My Life, Times And Current Medical Problems because after he agreed to the tour he fell ill and had to have surgery.

In his blog entry, Cleese recollected about the North Island city, "We stayed in a little motel, the weather was grotty, the theatre was a nasty shape and the audience was very strange to play to. We had a thoroughly, bloody miserable time there and we were so happy to get out."

"If you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick."

This has obviously led to a number of backlashes. One from New Zealand personality, John Clarke, who was born in Palmerston North, retorted, "The City Council should name its Awapuni Landfill after John Cleese so all manner of c**p is happily recycled."

Palmerston North's tourism official, Julia Sanson, tried to be more diplomatic and said, "We are just sorry that John didn't have more time in Palmerston North and the Manawatu region to form a qualified opinion. I think we all know not to take him too seriously."

Whereas Mayor Heather Tanguay ranted, "Obviously he still has trouble with his medical problems and may need some more medication."

Cleese will be taking the show around Australia later in the year.