This Cultural Life: Sir Michael Palin, 5 May 2024, BBC Four

Sir Michael Palin, actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter, is set to appear on BBC Four’s This Cultural Life on Sunday 5 May, where he will discuss his formative creative influences. Known for his work with the comedy group Monty Python and his extensive travel documentaries, Palin has had a remarkable career spanning decades.

Michael Palin was born on May 5, 1943, in Ranmoor, Sheffield, and developed an interest in acting from a young age. At five, he played Martha Cratchit in a school production of A Christmas Carol. By ten, he was performing comedy monologues and reading Shakespeare, playing all the parts, for his mother. After completing his education at Shrewsbury School, he studied modern history at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he met future collaborator Robert Hewison. Together, they wrote and performed comedy material for the first time at a university Christmas party, which was also attended by Terry Jones.

The Birth of Monty Python

Palin’s career in comedy began with writing for various BBC programs, including The Ken Dodd Show, The Frost Report, and Do Not Adjust Your Set. He was part of a talented writing team for The Frost Report that included future Monty Python members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, and Eric Idle. Palin and Jones collaborated on a theatrical documentary about sex through the ages, which was ultimately abandoned. However, this project brought them together as a writing duo, and they went on to work on shows like Twice a Fortnight and the successful children’s comedy series Do Not Adjust Your Set.

The formation of the Monty Python troupe came about due to Cleese’s desire to work with Palin, and a series of chance circumstances that brought the other members together. Palin’s range as an actor, his ability to work with others, and his boyish appeal contributed to his reputation as “the nice one” of the group. In Monty Python, Palin played a variety of roles, from manic enthusiasm to unflappable calmness, often serving as a foil to Cleese’s rising ire. He frequently co-wrote sketches and songs with Terry Jones, including the iconic “Lumberjack Song” and “Spam.”

After the Monty Python television series ended in 1974, Palin continued his creative partnership with Jones, working on the television comedy series Ripping Yarns. He also pursued acting roles, appearing in films like Time Bandits (1981), which he co-wrote with Terry Gilliam, and A Fish Called Wanda (1988), for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He received further recognition for his work, including a BAFTA Fellowship in 2013 and a knighthood in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to travel, culture, and geography.

Travel Documentaries and Beyond

Palin has established himself as a renowned travel documentarian, presenting a series of programs for the BBC, starting with Great Railway Journeys of the World in 1980. His first journey humorously reminisced about his childhood hobby of train spotting as he traveled throughout the UK. Palin’s travel programs have had a significant impact, with a phenomenon termed the “Palin effect” referring to the increase in tourist interest in areas he has visited. He is still going strong with his latest travelogue Michael Palin in Nigeria, airing recently on Channel 5.

In addition to his work in comedy and travel documentaries, Palin has appeared in serious drama, including the film American Friends (1991), based on a real event in his great-grandfather’s life, and Alan Bleasdale’s Channel 4 drama series GBH (1991). He has also written several children’s books, including Cyril and the House of Commons and The Mirrorstone.

This Cultural Life: Michael Palin airs on Sunday 5 May 2024 at 8.30pm on BBC Four.