Michael Palin on Monty Python at Work

Michael Palin talks to Edith Bowman about his new book Monty Python at Work, sharing his experiences working with the comedy group on television, stage and film.
This is a recording of a live Platform event from June 2014.
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[@uncleambient]

Michael must surely be the nicest man on Earth

[@alancost9244]

Palin is a true comic gift to humanity. My favorite Python member. I highly recommend to those who have never seen any of them-Palin's series "Ripping Yarns"....especially the "School Bully" episode. What a brilliant, humble and warm man! You lucky Brits!

[@manygate10]

The obsessive football fan was also brilliantly funny!

[@deanwilletts7428]

alan cost That was a great series, Michael was and still is my comedy hero.

[@00bikeboy]

It's actually called 'Tomkinson's Schooldays' S01-E01 of Ripping Yarns. And it's fantastic !

[@la95921]

Eric Olthwaite is way more funny than the school bully!

[@NxDoyle]

Michael Palin is in the very rare position of being both national and global treasure. He is a wonderful actor and writer, he added a new dimension to the TV travel genre and he is, without doubt, the embodiment of Monty Python's heart and soul.

[@MaggieShawn]

I was there! Love Michael Palin and will be seeing Monty Python this evening at the O2 live show, can't wait! :-)

[@2425eryy]

I admire Michael Palin so very much.

[@bodegabreath4258]

I was there at City Center in New York. The only time I ever attended a celebrity show. It was everything I had hoped it would be. Before the show (and after) as they arrived individually, on foot rather than in a limousine, and they very graciously talked with the group of star-struck fans, myself being one. Don’t think that would happen today.

[@bruceriley4063]

Wow, this is already 7 years old. MP is simply wonderful comedian.

[@mathiasthelander7834]

Listening to Michael making those walking down the stairs sound is such a python thing

[@N324F]

18:30, our family was living in the Seattle area in '74. On Saturday nights, we were glued to PBS for Python.

[@danddoty3981]

If the 20th Century had a peak in the field of comedy , Monty Python Flying Circus was it.

[@deanchristensen4783]

I knew that Monty Python was very popular in my home state of Utah because we have similar humour.

[@Brinta3]

Brilliant host.

[@parkviewmo]

Jim Beach! Someone should write a biography of him. He is amazing! I didn't know he knew they Pythons. Nelson Mandela, the Pythons, and Queen. That would be a book!

[@zebra64]

Wonderful.

[@docsmith9915]

Perhaps the only dilution regarding the Internet is that things become much more serious and the idea of just having a laugh becomes foreign. Yet Python just makes us laugh. They only after a joke. Brilliant.

[@pr1mu]

meaning of life is still the opus in my mind

[@contestor7]

I loved Python's final show on July 20th at the O2 in London but I wish they would've played Palin's "Its" man at the beginning which was totally off-beat and set the tone for the rest of the show.

[@NxDoyle]

It has to be at least 20 years since I found out that the BBC had wiped a bunch of Not Only...But Also episodes. Every time it came to mind since then, I felt kind of hapless annoyance. It's only recently I discovered which specific episodes were 'deleted'. For some reason I thought the bulk of the wiped eps were from the earlier series, but no. It's the 1970 series that was totally lost to history. So now, while I still mourn their loss and curse the people responsible for such a stupid decision, it makes me very grateful that Flying Circus didn't go the same way.

[@daicockle1987]

Like Mike ? seen Ripping Yarns ? -- NO? -- its a MUST -do it now

[@pepper669]

Ah, nice!

[@dontrelliommi2607]

cool

[@HNCS2006]

30:30

did these guys ever say no to an interview?

[@privateeromally7347]

Great interview. As great as his *yawn* travel program

[@hollyylloh515]

Penny for Pm 🇬🇧

[@callithowiseeit5806]

Love to listen to Palin.. Bowman on the other hand..

[@manygate10]

I think she is sweet!

[@hwren9845]

She's great. Not sure what your problem is.

[@mikearchibald744]

@@hwren9845 yes, this is a monty python channel, for needless spiteful comments go to a sci fi or comic book channel. she asked good questions clearly and concisely and didn't interrupt mr. palin. we'll give the benefiit of the doubt and assume he just misses carol cleveland.

[@robertd.carver6240]

Palin, as usual, is articulate and genteel. Accent aside, the young woman interviewing him is out of her depth!

[@TheAlmightyAss]

Seems fine to me.

[@mightilyoats2729]

"Accent aside" reads like "I'm not racist, but"

[@simoncarswell3515]

With a side of good old misogyny too. Edith was fine - she did her research, asked great questions and let him speak. She was great. "Out of her depth" my arse!

[@mitchellhogg4627]

And what, pray tell, is wrong with a Scottish accent?..

[@86penfold]

The host has the worst fake laugh

[@rogerflack415]

David Walliam isn't a writer of any great ability. Just a Roald Dahl knock-off. No idea why Palin would reference him as somebody who found the diaries useful - other than as sort of referencing a more modern celebrity.