michael palin the art of travel

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Michael Palin

The Early Years

Born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on May 5th. Father an Engineer, Mother not.

1948 – 1957

Attended Birkdale Preparatory School, Sheffield. First dramatic appearance as Martha Cratchit in school production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol . (Fell off stage.)

1957 – 1961

At Shrewsbury School. Acting career confined to rear of classroom.

The 1960’s

Joined Brightside and Carbrook Co-Operative Society Players whilst working in publicity department of Edgar Allen & Co. Steelmakers. Won Best Perf. Gent Award at Co-Op Drama Festival, Bradford. To Brasenose College, Oxford. Met Robert Hewison and wrote and performed first comedy material with him as cabaret at Oxford University Psychology Society Christmas Party.

Wrote and performed material in Hang Down Your Head and Die , university production which transferred to Comedy Theatre, London. Appeared with Terry Jones and others in the Oxford Revue at Edinburgh Festival. Played McCann in ETC (Experimental Theatre Club) production of Pinter’s The Birthday Party . Read a bit of History.

Wrote, appeared in and directed The Oxford Line , university revue at Edinburgh Festival. 2nd Class Modern History Degree. Left Oxford, collaborated with Terry Jones on his theatrical documentary, The Love Show . Employed as co-compere of Now , a TV pop show produced in Bristol for TWW.

April: Married Helen Gibbins, a farmer’s daughter. Wrote with Terry Jones for various TV shows – Ken Dodd Show , Billy Cotton Bandshow , The Illustrated Weekly Hudd , and was in the team of writers which won the Golden Rose of Montreux for BBC with The Frost Report (John Cleese was in the cast).

Wrote for Frost Reports , Frost Programme . Wrote, appeared in and helped script-edit A Series of Birds (with John Bird for BBC Television). Wrote and appeared in short films for Twice a Fortnight, BBC Television. Wrote pantomime Aladdin for Palace Theatre, Watford. Teamed up with Eric Idle and Terry Jones to write and perform Do Not Adjust Your Set , children’s comedy series which won Prix Jeunesse, Munich TV Festival.

Wrote for Marty Feldman (two BBC Television series). Wrote Beauty and The Beast pantomime for Watford Palace Theatre. Appeared with two Ronnies in Frost on Sunday . Appeared in special TV show, How To Irritate People , written by and starring Graham Chapman and John Cleese. Wrote and performed second series of Do Not Adjust Your Set . Wrote and performed in six-part series with Terry Jones, The Complete and Utter History of Britain for London Weekend Television.

Joined up with Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones for the first series of Monty Python’s Flying Circus , broadcast on BBC Television.

The 1970’s

Monty Python’s Flying Circus – the second series, broadcast on BBC Television. And Now For Something Completely Different (first Python movie).

Pythons in Deutschland , 45-minute TV film set in Munich. All Pythons spoke German, fairly badly. Python won Silver Rose of Montreux Award. Monty Python’s Big Red Book published.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus series 3 broadcast on BBC Television. Pythons in Deutschland second TV film for Bavaria Atelier Munich. Pythons did not speak German this time.

Monty Python’s First Farewell Tour – stage show toured UK and Canada. First American appearance on Tonight show. Joey Bishop standing in for Johnny Carson. Audience completely mystified. Co-wrote with Terry Jones a BBC Television play Secrets . Monty Python’s second book, The Brand New Monty Python Bok .

Monty Python’s Flying Circus , series 4, broadcast on BBC Television. Co-wrote and performed in Monty Python and the Holy Grail . Co-wrote with Terry Jones Bert Fegg’s Nasty Book for Boys and Girls .

Appeared in Three Men in a Boat , scripted by Tom Stoppard and directed by Stephen Frears – a film for BBC Television. Co-wrote with Terry Jones Tomkinson’s Schooldays for BBC Television. Co-wrote and appeared in Python Live at Drury Lane , a four-week stage show at the Theatre Royal. Appeared with Terry Gilliam at US Federal Court, Foley Square, New York, in ‘Python vs. ABC’ case.

Played lead in Jabberwocky , a film directed by Terry Gilliam. Co-wrote with Terry Jones Their Finest Hours – two short plays performed at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, directed by David Leland. Appeared in A Poke in The Eye , the First Amnesty International Charity Show at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Monty Python Live at City Center – New York for three weeks.

Co-wrote with Terry Jones Ripping Yarns for BBC Television. (Series won the BAFTA for Best Comedy or Light Entertainment Programme in 1980).

Co-wrote and appeared in Monty Python’s Life of Brian . Co-wrote with Terry Jones the book of Ripping Yarns . Appeared as Eric Manchester in Eric Idle’s The Rutles .

Co-wrote with Terry Jones three more Ripping Yarns . Co-wrote and was contributing editor on Montypythonscrapbook . Appeared in The Secret Policeman’s Ball , Amnesty International Comedy Gala at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

The 1980’s

Wrote and presented the British episode of Great Railway Journeys of The World , from London to Kyle of Lochalsh, for BBC Television. Monty Python Live at The Hollywood Bowl , stage show.

Co-wrote with Terry Gilliam and appeared in Time Bandits , a film directed by Terry Gilliam and co-wrote accompanying book.

Wrote Small Harry and the Toothache Pill , a children’s book.

Wrote and appeared in The Missionary , a film with Maggie Smith and Trevor Howard. More Than 35 Minutes with Michael Palin , performed at the Belfast Festival. Wrote and appeared in Comic Roots , an autobiographical film for BBC Television. Co-wrote and appeared in Monty Python’s Meaning of Life which won Grand Prix Special du Jury at Cannes Film Festival.

Played Jack Lint in Brazil , a film directed by Terry Gilliam. Played the chiropodist in A Private Function , alongside Maggie Smith and Denholm Elliott. Played naughty husband in Ava Sereny’s short film, The Dress , with Phyllis Logan. Recorded children’s audio books Jack The Giant Killer , Scrapefoot , Mowgli’s Brothers and How Fear Came . Co-wrote with Terry Jones Dr Fegg’s Encyclopeadia (sic) of All World Knowledge (formerly the Nasty Book for Boys and Girls).

Wrote Limericks . The Longest Running Show of its Kind in the World , performed at the Belfast Festival.

Wrote three children’s books, Cyril and the Dinner Party , Cyril and The House of Commons and The Mirrorstone , a project with Alan Lee and Richard Seymour. Became Chairman of Transport 2000, an environmental lobby group aiming to improve transport in the UK. Regular columnist for Options for Men .

Michael Palin’s 500 and One-Man Show , performed at the Belfast Festival. Wrote film, East of Ipswich for BBC Television. Wrote and appeared in The Chairman for Central Television, about the work of Transport 2000. Retired from the Chair, made President of Transport 2000.

Played Ken in the film A Fish Called Wanda . (Won Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Award) Monty Python team received the Michael Balcon Award at BAFTA. Wrote film Number 27 for BBC Television.

Wrote and presented Around the World in 80 Days , travel documentary series for BBC Television. Wrote Around the World in 80 Days for BBC Books to accompany the series. Recorded audio book of Around the World in 80 Days . Michael Palin’s One Man Show , performed at the Belfast Festival. Presented seven programmes in series The Art of Travel for BBC Television.

The 1990’s

Co-wrote and played lead part in American Friends , a film based on the life of Michael’s great-grandfather. Played Jim Nelson in GBH , a seven-part drama series by Alan Bleasdale for Channel 4 Television.

Wrote and presented Pole to Pole , travel documentary series for BBC Television. (Won Cable ACE Award for Best Recreation or Leisure Special or Series) Wrote Pole to Pole for BBC Books to accompany the series. (Won ‘Publishing News’ Best Travel Writer Award) Recorded children’s audio book, The Man by Raymond Briggs.

Recorded children’s audio book, Jack and the Beanstalk . Appeared in A Class Act with Tracey Ullman for Meridian Television. Played The Dresser with Freddie Jones as “Sir” in BBC Radio 4 Drama. Wrote and presented an episode of Great Railway Journeys of the World , from Derry to Kerry, for BBC Television. Contributed a chapter to BBC book, Great Railway Journeys of the World .

Wrote and presented Palin’s Column , documentary series filmed on the Isle of Wight for Meridian Television. Wrote The Weekend , a stage play. Opened in Guildford in March, followed by six-week regional tour. Moved to West End in May. Recorded children’s audio book, Esio Trot , by Roald Dahl. Wrote text for Pole to Pole: The Photographs , a book of photographs by Basil Pao.

Wrote first novel Hemingway’s Chair , for Methuen. Voice of Ratty in Carlton Television’s animated The Wind in the Willows programmes.

Appeared as the Sun in The Wind in the Willows , directed by Terry Jones.

Wrote and presented Full Circle , travel documentary series for BBC Television. (Won Television and Radio Industries Awards for Best Documentary and Best Presenter, Won Best Documentary at the National Television Awards 1998) Wrote Full Circle for BBC Books, to accompany the series. Played Bugsy, the insect-house keeper, in the film Fierce Creatures . Recorded audio book of Full Circle (Won Best Film or TV tie-in at the British Talkies Awards 1998) Co-wrote and presented Palin on Redpath , an arts documentary about painter Anne Redpath, for BBC Television.

New edition of Limericks published by Red Fox, also recorded audio book. Given Royal Geographical Society’s Ness Award for ‘travels leading to a wider public appreciation of the world’. Michael Palin – Thirty Years Without a Proper Job , performed at The Belfast Festival.

Wrote and presented Michael Palin’s Hemingway Adventure a four-part travel documentary series for BBC Television. Wrote accompanying book published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Recorded audio book of Hemingway Adventure . Contribued to Python Night , a special evening to mark the 30th Anniversary of Monty Python, transmitted October 9th on BBC Television. Contributed to live coverage of the Millennium Events for BBC Television.

The 2000’s

Michael was made a CBE in the 2000 New Years’ Honours List for his services to television drama and travel. Awarded Butlins Billy Award 1999/2000 for ‘Most Fun TV Travel Presenter’. Pocketful of Python , a personal selection of favourite Python works, published by Methuen. Presented and co-wrote The Bright Side of Life , documentary on the Scottish Colourist painters, for BBC Television.

Awarded Butlins Billy Award 2000/2001 for ‘Most Fun TV Travel Presenter’ (2nd year running).

Wrote and presented Sahara with Michael Palin , a four-part series for BBC Television. (Won Best Documentary Programme at the Television and Radio Industry Club Awards) Accompanying book Sahara with Michael Palin published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Received Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards.

Presented Michael Palin and The Ladies Who Loved Matisse , arts documentary for BBC Television.

Wrote and presented Himalaya with Michael Palin , six-part series for BBC Television. (Won the Royal Television Society Best Presenter Award and a TRIC Award for Best TV Music and Arts Programme). Accompanying book Himalaya with Michael Palin published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. (Won British Book Award for Best TV and Film Book of the Year) Audio book of Himalaya with Michael Palin released.

Presented with a BAFTA Special Award. Presented Michael Palin and the Mystery of Hammershoi , arts documentary for BBC Television.

Michael Palin Diaries 1969-1978 The Python Years published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Wrote and presented New Europe with Michael Palin , a seven-part series for BBC Television. Accompanying book New Europe published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Audio book of New Europe released.

Presented The Last Days of World War One a Timewatch documentary for BBC Television. Presented Around the World in 20 Years , a one-hour special for BBC Television. Around the World in 80 Days Special 20th Anniversary Edition published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

President of the Royal Geographical Society for a three-year term. Michael Palin Diaries 1980-1988 – Halfway to Hollywood published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

The 2010’s

The Truth , Michael’s second novel, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Wrote and presented Brazil with Michael Palin , a four-part series for BBC Television. Accompanying book Brazil with Michael Palin published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Awarded the BAFTA Fellowship. Played General Mitford in The Wipers Times written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman for BBC Television. Presented Wyeth’s World arts documentary for BBC Television.

Performed Monty Python Live – One Down Five To Go , ten-night sell-out show at the O2 Arena, London. Michael Palin’s Diaries 1988-1998 – Travelling to Work , published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson. Performed Travelling to Work – Live Tour , 21shows throughout the UK. Played Tom Parfitt in Remember Me a three-part contemporary ghost story written by Gwyneth Hughes for BBC Television.

Performed Travelling to Work – Live Tour across Australia and in New Zealand. Narrated The Clangers , a new version of the classic children’s TV series for BBC Television. Presented Michael Palin’s Quest for Artemisia , an arts documentary for BBC Television.

A new edition of A Sackful of Limericks was published by Random House. Presenter for Michael Palin meets Jan Morris .

Appeared as Molotov in Armando Iannucci’s film The Death of Stalin . Performed in two plays for Radio 4 an adaptation of his play The Weekend   and The Wroxton Box for John Finnemore’s Double Acts .

Played Thackeray in an ITV adaptation of Vanity Fair . Erebus: The Story of a Ship was published by Hutchinson Presented a two-part series Michael Palin in North Korea for Channel 5.

Michael was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for services to travel, culture and geography in the New Year Honours. Performed Michael Palin, Erebus, Python and Other Stories live on stage at 13 UK theatres. Michael Palin’s North Korea Journal was published by Hutchinson. Played The Green Man in two-part adaptation of Worzel Gummidge starring and directed by Mackenzie Crook for BBC Television.

The 2020’s

Performed in A Bit of Waiting for Godot . A Lockdown Theatre performance with Robert Lindsay and Joanna Lumley. Guest appearance as a museum curator in a new episode of The Simpsons. Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime . A four-part series for BBC Television in which Michael looks back at his travels.

Cameo appearance in series 2 of the BBC comedy Staged with Michael Sheen and David Tennant.

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Michael Palin: The Art of Travel (1989)

• Michael Palin: The Art of Travel

Short travelogues in which Michael Palin experiences a bygone age of rail travel in the UK.

Michael Palin: The Art of Travel: Season 1 - 4 Episode s

November 7, 1989

Michael Palin takes his golf clubs to St Andrews on a journey up the 'drier side of Britain', where the London North Eastern Railway's publicity department of the 1920s and 1930s promoted an industrial service alongside more familiar holiday resorts and the glamour of fast trains.

November 8, 1989

Michael Palin discovers that the Great Western Railway had the most sophisticated public relations machine of all the railway companies between the two world wars, producing high-quality publications and promotional gimmicks.

1x3 - Southern Railway

November 9, 1989

Michael Palin embarks on an imaginary romantic assignation to Paris aboard the Golden Arrow. Promoting its new-fangled electrification through a series of colourful posters, the Southern Railway provides him with a gateway to sunshine.

November 17, 1989

Michael Palin takes an imaginary journey to Blackpool via the LMS posters of the 1920s and 1930s.

Michael Palin: The Art of Travel: 1 Season

S1: season 1.

4 Episode s

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Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime

Michael Palin has a nostalgic look back on five of his travel adventures - Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara and Himalaya. Michael Palin has a nostalgic look back on five of his travel adventures - Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara and Himalaya. Michael Palin has a nostalgic look back on five of his travel adventures - Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara and Himalaya.

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• Joanna Lumley
• David Attenborough
• 4 User reviews

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TV tonight: Michael Palin concludes his epic trip across Nigeria

The comedian, author and presenter learns about the long shadow of British colonialism. Plus: it’s the Interior Design Masters final. Here’s what to watch this evening

Michael Palin in Nigeria

9pm, Channel 5 It’s the final week of Palin’s 1,300-mile journey across Nigeria, and he’s heading south to Benin City. As soon as he arrives, a local woman shares her strong feelings about statues there that are a reminder of British forces burning down the city in 1897. Thousands of bronze artefacts were also taken, which are still on display in the British Museum, and the city wants them back. Later, there is jollof rice for lunch and time to reflect. Hollie Richardson

Interior Design Masters With Alan Carr

8pm, BBC One It’s concrete fanboy Matt v colourful maximalist Roisin in this final interiors showdown. Their task is to make over an entire holiday lodge in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, while honouring the grand Oxfordshire mansion’s 300-year history. But has Roisin really learned how to hold back? And can brutalist Matt make concessions for comfort? Ellen E Jones

For the Love of Dogs With Alison Hammond

An unlucky pug with endless ailments and a German shepherd that is scared of her own shadow get big Alison Hammond hugs at Battersea this week. She also helps to train a litter of lurcher pups that need a few lessons in manners. HR

Aldi’s Next Big Thing

8pm, Channel 4 Another gang of artisan food producers compete for two parallel prizes: nominally they’re trying to get Aldi to stock their product nationwide, but everyone whose grub looks good on TV can brace for an influx of online orders. Among the contenders here are a Philippine banana ketchup, a kebab marinade and a jackfruit ready meal. Jack Seale

9pm, BBC Three Ashley Storrie stars as prickly but lovable Nina, who finally has a date with the hot drinks vendor. One problem: it clashes with Evie’s wedding dress fitting, which she’d know if she hadn’t muted the group chat. A series of mini disasters and jokes about palaeontologists provide charming comedy. Hannah Verdier

Mel Giedroyc: Unforgivable

10pm, Dave The reality TV star Jamie Laing, the comedian Fern Brady and the actor Jordan Stephens are the three celebrities confessing their unforgivable moments this week. There are anecdotes on bad sex education, beef with the ex-children’s TV presenter Lizo Mzimba and more than one run-in with the police. HR

• Michael Palin
• Alison Hammond
• Mel Giedroyc

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TV Review: Michael Palin may not be the traveller he was but the 80-year-old is always worth listening to

I f the Rolling Stones can perform on stage into their dotage, then I suppose there’s no reason why Michael Palin can’t keep touring the world.

The 80-year-old ascended to TV royalty after Around the World in 80 Days redefined TV travelogue in the 1980s and a series of similar programmes followed.

Lately it’s been one-off country visits rather than circumnavigating the globe, but his trips to North Korea and Iraq were worthwhile.

His latest adventure is to Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria.

And by current projections, he told us, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world by 2050, after India and China.

To the envy of many developed countries, not least South Korea which fears its people are dying out such is the low reproduction rate, Nigeria has a birth rate of five children per woman.

Figures like that mean that Lagos (20 million souls) is projected to have a population of 88 million by the end of the century.

Of course, predictions often mean nothing, particularly when it comes to humans.

We are unique among living things in that when resources are plentiful, we have less offspring, not more. as happens in the animal kingdom.

South Korea, and other European and Asian nations, are finding out to their cost that success (and the wealth that accompanies it) often means a dwindling population.

Palin feels the full force of what density of people feels like when he begins his journey in Lagos, the old capital of the country.

“It’s like having 3,000 volts put through you,” he says with a rictus smile as he navigates his way through a sprawling market.

He’s not quite the traveller of old.

For one, his ‘Passepartout’ has grown exponentially and that means more fixers to ensure his security, guides to direct him around and people in the know to explain what’s going on.

Like us all, Palin is a better travel guide when he finds things out for himself.

But then age is merciless and it’s entirely reasonable that he has some more help about the place.

That’s not to say that he’s lost any of his sharpness and wit.

He noted with glee an official looking sign on an old colonial building in Lokoja, once the seat of British power in Nigeria, that ‘no urinating’ was allowed.

To be fair, he travelled extensively in the country.

His first destination after Lagos was to the slavery station called the ‘point of no return’.

It was a solemn visit as he took in the enormity of what had happened on a beautiful Atlantic beach as innocent captured people were transported in slave ships to the New World.

Afterwards, he flew to Kano in the north of the country, on the edge of the dangerous Sahel and an area of operation for Boko Haram.

Then it was into a jeep and 1,300 miles overland back across the country.

They went through modern roads, paid for by China, other almost impassible roads, and through dusty and dangerous towns and onto the capital since 1991; think of Craigavon with more scale and better weather and you get Abuja.

Palin touched on the corruption which plagues Nigeria and appears to hold it back from taking its place among the foremost nations in the world that its size deserves.

But mostly his visit is an encouraging one. He was struck by the positivity of the people and hopes that their striving nature means that Nigeria’s progress maps that of India and China to a better life for the millions of the poor and disposed.

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Palin's Travels

Welcome to Palin's Travels

Palin's Travels is on a new journey. With the acquisition of many previously unseen photos taken by Basil Pao, its being transformed into a new, bright, dynamic format... discover more

Around the World in 80 Days

Following the route taken by Phileas Fogg, Michael sets out from the Reform Club in London to circumnavigate the world. The rules were simple, but nothing else about the trip was straightforward... discover more

Pole to Pole

Phileas Fogg behind, Roald Amundsen ahead. A mere 16 countries and both hemispheres to cover. Michael experiences every extreme. From the cold grip of the Arctic Circle, to the South Pole... discover more

Full Circle

Blizzards, Bogota’s Bullet Street and Alaskan abandonment push Michael and the crew to the limit as they travel through 18 countries on the perimeter of the world’s largest ocean... discover more

Hemingway Adventure

One hundred years after the birth of Ernest Hemingway, Michael sets out to discover the man behind the legend: a hard-drinking, controversial figure who wrote like a dream... discover more

The Sahara. As big as of the United States with a population the size of Norfolk. With extreme temperatures and camel stew poisoning thrown in, Michael has his work cut out... discover more

In a journey rarely, if ever, attempted before, Michael takes on the full length of the Himalaya - 1800 miles from the borders of Afghanistan to southwest China.... discover more

Michael’s travels in New Europe take him to twenty countries and a world that has changed beyond belief since the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Iron Curtain... discover more

Michael travels to Brazil. A country unlike any other with a potent mix of races, religions and cultures, of unexplored wildernesses and bustling modern cities.... discover more

North Korea

Michael gets unprecedented access to the reclusive country of North Korea, meeting ordinary people in this secretive and little understood country... discover more

A fascinating and rare insight into the history and culture of Iraq, a country that few outsiders now venture to see. Michael travels the length of the River Tigris, a journey of sharp and often brutal contrasts... discover more

Sahara, Day 6, Fez, Morocco

A tale of two cities.

To an ear disoriented by deep sleep it sounds like bagpipes warming up or a very ancient siren being cranked into life. Then, after a moment of struggling wakefulness, it...

Hemingway Adventure, Fossalta di Piave, Italy

Hemingway by pedal bike.

Today I’m going to try to recreate his journey to the trenches and back (without the getting blown up bit) to see what, if anything, is as it was. A...

Around The World In 80 Days, Day 20, Indian Ocean

Travelling by dhow.

Somewhere a long way away it's my wife's birthday and A Fish Called Wanda is being shown to the British public for the first time. Here in the Gulf of...

Pole To Pole, Day 57, Luxor, Egypt

The temple of karnak.

An early start to catch the sunrise over the ruins of the Temple of Karnak. The name is taken from the town of Carnac in Brittany and is a reminder...

Around The World In 80 Days

Pole To Pole

Photography

Travel Shop

Read Michael’s account of his epic journey through 18 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. A spectacular journey of contrasts, drama and beauty.

Travels Of A Lifetime

In intimate conversation, and using his personal archive, Michael's reflects on how he got hooked on travel, and reveals the challenges he faced making the ground-breaking travel shows.

Hemingway Adventure Book and DVD

In this wonderful blend of adventure and travel writing, Michael follows in the footsteps of one of the great literary figures of the century.

Into Iraq Book and DVD

A fascinating and rare insight into the history and culture of Iraq. Michael shares the impressions he formed of a country that few outsiders now venture to see.

Michael explores this exotic country that is now a global superpower, and takes a closer look at a remarkable new force on the world scene.

Facing altitudes as high as 17,500 feet as well as some of the world’s deepest gorges, Michael tackles the full length of the Himalaya.

Pole To Pole Book and DVD

Travelling by train, truck, raft, Ski-Doo, barge, balloon and bicycle, Michael experiences every extreme the world has to offer. From the cold grip of the Arctic Circle, to the South

Around The World In 80 Days Book and DVD

Michael follows in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg as he takes on the famous challenge to circumnavigate the globe in less than 80 days.

North Korea Journal Book and DVD

Michael shares his day-by-day diary of his visit to North Korea a land wholly unlike any other he has ever visited.

New Europe Book and DVD

Breathing in Eastern Europe's rich history, exquisite sights and talking to its diverse peoples, Michael fills what has been a void in his own experience and that of many others.

As the journey unfolds, the Sahara reveals not the emptiness of endless sand dunes, but a huge and diverse range of cultures and landscapes and a long history.

An Evening with Michael Palin

A captivating Evening with British Icon Michael Palin. A true Travel Legend.

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Michael Palin opens up about grief after death of Helen, his wife of 57 years

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Michael Palin has opened up about his experience of grief after the death of his wife Helen Gibbins .

Gibbins, who married the Monty Python star in 1966, died of kidney failure in May. She also suffered with chronic pain for several years.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times , broadcaster and comedian Palin spoke of the “great sort of emptiness” he has experienced in the wake of Gibbins’ death, which occurred just weeks after the couple’s 57th wedding anniversary.

“When someone’s gone, someone who has been so much part of your life for the past 60 years, you can’t believe they’re not there to enjoy a little joke, or an observation, or a b**** about somebody,” he said. “A great sort of emptiness comes in.”

Palin, 80, said that his wife had relied on dialysis for “so many years” in order to “keep her alive”, explaining that she eventually “took the decision, along with the children and the doctors, to give it up”.

• Michael Palin to feature in new exhibition celebrating 75 years of NHS charities
• Michael Palin shares grandson’s brutal message after missing his birthday to travel to Iraq
• Michael Palin announces death of his wife Helen: ‘The bedrock of my life’

He added that he had “never seen her happier in a way” than during the final 10 days of her life, after choosing to stop the treatment.

“She’d accepted it, we’d accepted it, she was in a wonderful hospice,” Palin said. “The children and grandchildren had all come to see her, so her death was a great deliverance for her.”

The comedy legend also revealed that he had experienced a full circle moment when he had to register Gibbins’ death, during which he saw a couple with a young baby at the registry office.

“I saw the father, I presume, holding on his chest this tiny, tiny little newborn baby,” he said. “And I thought, yes, that’s it, a new person – one in, one out.”

Announcing Gibbins’ death on his website in May, Palin shared a heartbreaking statement in which he hailed her as “the bedrock of my life”.

He revealed how the pair had met as teenagers on holiday before eventually tying the knot in their early twenties, and said that her passing was an “indescribable loss” for the whole family.

“My dearest wife Helen died peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning,” Palin wrote. “She had been suffering with chronic pain for several years, which was compounded a few years ago by a diagnosis of kidney failure.

“We first met on a summer holiday on the Suffolk coast when we were both 16 and we married in our early 20s. Two and a half weeks ago we celebrated our 57th wedding anniversary.

“Her death is an indescribable loss for myself, our three children and four grandchildren. Helen was the bedrock of my life. Her quietly wise judgement informed all my decisions and her humour and practical good sense was at the heart of our life together.”

Palin fictionalised the story of the couple’s meeting in the BBC television drama East of Ipswich , which aired in 1987.

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