The man who wrote the backing music to a famous Monty Python sketch and other TV and film themes is continuing to reap the rewards.

Hove-based composer Paul Lewis has made a successful career from his compositions.

One of his most widely-heard works features in the scene in Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life, where Terry Jones's obese character Mr Creosote explodes after guzzling too much, may force some squeamish viewers to cover their eyes.

As long as they do not cover their ears, however, Paul is happy.

Because every time Mr Creosote throws up, someone has to cough up cash for Paul.

He wrote the backing music which builds up the tension as Mr Creosote's waistline expands, until he is undone by one last wafer-thin mint.

Paul receives a royalty payment every time one of his compositions is used - ranging from mere pennies to four-figure sums.

Although writing film and TV themes for 40 years, he is still often taken by surprise to hear them.

Paul, 59, has been commissioned to write themes for many programmes, including Woof, Arthur Of The Britons and The Prisoner Of Zenda.

The music appears on his new compilation CD, titled Three Decades Of TV Themes.

He has also written hundreds of tracks for mood music compilations, which are regularly rifled by TV and film producers.

Earlier this week Paul was preparing to watch a James Bond film on ITV when he noticed one of his tunes in a trailer for drama series Midsomer Murders.

His evocative backing tracks have also cropped up in programmes such as Minder, The Two Ronnies and the cartoon Count Duckula - often far removed from their original context.

He has his piano in the kitchen of his Westbourne Street home, so he can compose while waiting for the kettle to boil or dinner to cook.

He said: "Inspiration can come at any time - I often have to dash into shops along the seafront to beg for paper to write down a musical idea."

One burst of seafront inspiration may never come to fruition, though.

Paul's mother Phyllis used to play the accordion and violin in the concert hall on the West Pier.

He intended to write a special suite to be performed on the day the pier reopened.

After the recent partial collapse of the pier, he said: "It looks as though it may never happen now - maybe the suite will have to be in memoriam."