Michael Palin

Michael Palin was first famous as ‘the nice one’ in the Monty Python team (despite fraudulently selling John Cleese a dead parrot), then as an actor in films from Brazil to A Fish Called Wanda. He’s now best known - and loved - as the BBC’s resident world traveller, a role that’s been recognised with a stint as president of the Royal Geographical Society.
But the multi-talented star says his favourite thing to do is writing - whether it’s keeping a diary (his have been published), writing sketches or television scripts, or even writing fiction. His second novel, The Truth, about an ageing, cash-strapped environmental journalist given the chance to profile his hero, was published this year.
This conversation with Wheeler Centre director Michael Williams covers broad ground: from Palin’s early fascination with trainspotting to the benefit of an attentive sound recordist and what it was like hosting Saturday Night Live with his mum.
Other topics include British comedy in the late 1960s, the process in the writers' room during Monty Python’s formative period, Palin’s particular sensibilities within that group, embarking on Around the World in 80 Days, the development of Life of Brian and an unusual encounter with fan Mayumi Nobetsu (whom he first met whilst filming Full Circle).
He also talks about his latest travel series Brazil, his new novel The Truth, and the ‘immense relief’ of the moment when he found his tone as a traveller. And, just for balance, he considers having John Cleese ‘stuffed, holding a fish, for quite some time’.
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[@RuthShultz47]

I have always absolutely adored Michael Palin since he was a very young actor. I suppose I grew up watching his career whilst living my own life. He really is quite lovely and never disappoints,

[@HansonProMusic]

Michael is the nice one. Notice when he pours his water he fills the hosts glass as well. Cheers to you Mr. Palin!

[@2425eryy]

Great observation.

[@dunlop9161]

50:30

[@CliffLewis28]

A true gentleman and a comedy legend. Thanks for everything, Michael.

[@brianjacob8728]

Palin was the glue that kept that lot together.

[@Pookleberry]

When he received his 'Special Recognition Award', it was 10% about himself and 90% about Terry Jones. PURE....nay.......PUREST class!!

[@Mozart1220]

I like the story Eric Idle tells about how he is often mistaken for Michael Palin. He says he signs Mike's name and then tells the person to "fuck off". LOL

[@dougerhard2128]

John Cleese said it best, pertaining to the timelessness of much of MPFC's sketches. It's because they're based not primarily upon current events or fads, etc., but upon human foibles. And these will never change.

[@tygerstar35]

Love all the Pythons! Thanks for posting.

[@2425eryy]

Michael Palin is an inspiration.

[@YourFriendlyNeighbour]

I love Michael Palin. Has anyone here heard the cassette story "The Man" by Raymond Briggs? Michael Palin voices this tiny man about 5 inches tall who comes into a young boy's house, seeking refuge. They form a friendship, they argue, they joke and they have such a great story. I highly recommend it, I used to hear it a lot when I was young, it's a gorgeous story. If you type in "Raymond Briggs, The Man" into KZbin, the whole audio story is there. So nice to hear Michael play this tiny little man, you can imagine it.

[@nathanh641]

I loved that as a kid. We got it free with some PG Tips I think

[@falcolebt-feinstewienerstr8724]

HE is my favourite.

[@mithfilth]

You are The Greatest sir .

[@WalterJoergLangbein]

I'm reading EREBUS by Michael Palin....fascinating, breathtaking, extremely well written!

[@captal6187]

Michael is a thoroughbred gentleman

[@bfkc111]

He's such a nice guy.

[@jorgegomez524]

most of all, he is a good man. a specie facing extintion.

[@NxDoyle]

That's unfair. Most people are good.

[@AndrewCalhounSongs]

What a lovely guy.

[@Loveofkeyboards]

Hi Mayumi! Nice to hear from you!

[@svenerikgolden7069]

Nice interview in Melbourne, Australia with the "terribly nice" Michael Palin as John Cleese puts it. Definitely funnier than his distant cousin Sarah in Alaska. His diaries make lovely reading. And for some reason the interviewer's name is Michael not Bruce.

[@Fcutdlady]

I love the story of Fraser Barber (the sound man on pole to pole) and his double entedre detection ability.

[@tgwcl6194]

Excellent actor!

[@fisherking7798]

I've seen the bit in Tokio (Full circle) where he was talking to the Japanese girl/woman, he was surprised she came to Australia 😆

[@redsquirrel1086]

Fabulous bloke.

[@davidviner5783]

The Japanese lady who questions Michael about getting into comedy is Myumi: Michael met her in Tokyo in an episode of FULL CIRCLE,

[@TheTakbok]

Looks like he didnt realise it was her

[@Stumbler2001]

Love his answer to the question at 1:00:10

[@SuperHoops-1882]

Michael is an absolute Legend succesful in everything he has done , a very interesting Q&A, the interviewer tho is extremely annoying

[@ferociousgumby]

My favorite Python!

[@barbaraburbello9236]

Nothing but the best ALWAYS🥰😎😂🥰

[@erniehudson1]

Can one blame Cleese for having an obsession on Palin?

[@2425eryy]

Well put.

[@NxDoyle]

Almost well put.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

Would have been far better with a journalist, still Palin rises above.

[@alexanderSydneyOz]

i think some of the comments below are a bit picky, to say the least. this is an hour+ interview, interesting throughout, and the host kept the flow of questions, to which palin is responding, interesting. palin, for his part, seems very engaged with the questions which plainly provided a canvas onto which he could paint his stories. ok, he slightly mixed up a couple of names. and? no, he isnt graham notlob, but everyone has their own style. personally, i really enjoyed him as an interviewer. palin, however, is just brilliant, eh? he is just so easy to listen to. funny how cleese comes across as quite stuffy in his older years, and seemed to lose his spark quite distinctly.

[@NewhamMatt]

I've just come from a few of Cleese's interviews (the one where he's interviewed by Eric Idle is the best), but while he tells a lot of the same stories owing to the fact he was promoting his autobiography, I really enjoy Cleese and love when he starts talking about creativity and ideas.

[@teodelfuego]

Alexander Stollznow thank you for saying that about pickey commentators

[@fredcollierfinishingtouche6701]

Interviewer keeps referencing the wrong Scott.

[@spoiler321]

I'm watching this and find myself periodically asking, "Is that Harrison Ford?"

[@37Dionysos]

The Fish Dance Rules!

[@susanzoefelix6631]

Dear Sir Michael, I have no idea if you will ever read the comments but btw re Norman Wisdom, when my father was young working at North Thames Gas board he WAS THE TEA BOY😂

[@WOTHAN66666]

82,000 SEEN this and only 500 likes???? WHAT THE HELL PEOPLE????

[@emilymeyerding3392]

Have you ever read Studs Terkel's Working? You should give it a read.

[@Bricameron]

Python was definitely the Beatles of comedy.

[@SSNT4]

Did Michael not recognize Mayumi? 😢

[@manzanoben]

Michael Palin must be the nicest guy on Earth.

[@scotthall8046]

To add to the comments below, the interviewer seems disengaged. No follow up questions. He moves right on to the next question as if he never listened to the answer to the question that he previously posed. Very irritating.

[@InfernalPurge]

He swishes, so you should be glad he doesn't say "so let me get this straight" so often ;)

[@abc-oq7dt]

The interviewer looks like he's asleep sometimes when he's listening. It makes me laugh

[@themadplotter]

He was too busy trying to prove he was funny

[@themadplotter]

I like how the host tells people not to be funny but he spent the whole time failing to be funny, not to mention he sounds Australian.

[@patrikez1]

Well that Japanese woman from Around the Pacific Naiumi,has turned out to be a stalker,love how Michael kind of ignored her.

[@Canada_Dominium]

Michael Palin is NOT NICE. During "Dead Parrot," he was expected to respond with "no," but he used "it mutters a bit," which frighted John Cleese into riotous laughter. NOT NICE.

[@jeffnettleton3858]

It's Phileas Fogg! Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gammelgarten]

In contrast to comedy legend Palin, the humorlessness of the interviewer is all the more striking.

[@sodapop83]

i think he's cool

[@teodelfuego]

The interviewer is excellent and was humorous suggesting the audience member should be escorted out.

[@themadplotter]

I bet if he interviews Usain Bolt he’d show him how fast he could run before falling on his arse. The irony is of course he would get a laugh.

[@allybally0021]

I do like the interviewer......high risk humour never worked for me....but I love a tryer!!

[@teodelfuego]

After watching hundreds of You Tube interviews, i know that all the good interviewers have retired and stay home typing in the comments section.

[@verena9911]

he's so cool haha

[@edellis515]

FIND THE FISH!!!!!!

[@edellis515]

A GOD!!!!

[@edellis515]

THEY ARE ALL GODS

[@dijonperry8286]

Breaking down the barriers ended up enforcing pronouns for transgenders on everyone.

[@GoatHoovesInSpats]

I don't like the host, I was annoyed by him every time he spoke, I was trying to blot him out the whole time.

[@wangdangdoodie]

I know, he's immensely irritating.

[@rogerflack415]

He must get so bored of telling these same stories again and again. His real skill is making it seem like this isn't 100th time he has been asked the same questions.

[@miriamgreen3973]

Russian children are taught NOT to smile

[@blacquesjacques7239]

Aussies .... sheesh... The interviewer seemed more pom than the Brit he was interviewing

[@hollyylloh515]

Pm for Pm 🇬🇧

[@redsquirrel1086]

A tip for the interviewer. Never try and be funny in the presence of a Python.

[@JanPBtest]

Future generations will look back at this period of TV history marvelling at those idiotic headsets. WTF? They had tiny hidden microphones technology already in the 1970s for goodness sake! And every KZbin news channel uses those as well, they cost peanuts. So why those pathetic headsets, they look like something growing on the face that requires immediate medical attention. A total mystery.

[@thompasaurus]

A mystery because you know nothing about sound. Those "hidden" mics, or lapel mics as they are called, only work in studio environments where there are no loudspeakers or foldback. Use them in a very live room, like Melbourne Town Hall where this was filmed, and it will be unlistenable. That said, I don't like those headsets either and use different mics. But lapel mics? Absolute worst possible choice and you'll never see it in a venue like this. No matter what period of TV history.

[@JanPBtest]

@@thompasaurus Sorry, what you just said here makes no sense. Just look at zillions of videos on YT showing identical setups.

[@jasonjefferson9104]

Fabulous bloke.