Michael Palin on parting ways with the BBC, turning down Strictly and plans to keep travelling

Michael Palin responds with a affirmative, “Indeed,” he says. He’s discussing his recently published diary compilation, titled There and Back, which spans the years 1999 to 2009. This book doesn’t shy away from personal revelations, including the awkward experiences of prostate examinations by GPs or the unexpected announcement on BBC Radio 4’s Today program in April 2005 that supposedly marked the end of his documentary-making career. In Palin’s own words, he was left wandering around in just a T-shirt and underpants, feeling somewhat bewildered, like an elderly gentleman who had lost his bearings, before eventually contacting the BBC to voice his disagreement.