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

As I delve into Michael Palin‘s latest work, there’s a profound sense of admiration that swells within me, akin to the feeling one gets when watching a seasoned explorer chart new territories. His travels have taken him to places where many fear to tread – Iraq, North Korea, and Nigeria, just to name a few. And yet, he persists, not for the thrill of adventure, but for the love of understanding the human spirit that resides in every corner of our world.

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.

Today, despite being 81 years old, which technically makes him a pensioner, he’s not confused in the least. As quoted in the book-filled living room of their north London home, shared with his wife of 57 years, Helen, Palin says, “The diaries contain many instances of ‘bathroom moments.'” This means there were times when both he and Helen would be at their two wash basins, and he might say something about someone, to which she would respond by looking up towards the sky.

In similar terms: Helen passed away at the age of 80 due to kidney issues in the year 2023. At such times, some widowers might choose to pause life and prepare for their own demise. However, Palin stands out as he remains incredibly active. Besides creating travel documentaries, as Humphrys recently mentioned, he continues to produce these, there is an almost constant flow of writing. The latest addition to a series of published diaries, “There and Back,” follows the 2006 release of “The Python Years.” Moreover, Palin has penned 23 other books, 11 of which are linked to his diverse television travel series. Yet, one may wonder why he persists in writing and publishing these diaries?

He clarifies that his narration feels overly self-indulgent and boastful. In his perspective, it’s arrogant because he is not a sports reporter discussing a game or an anthropologist talking about a specific tribe, so one might wonder why his daily activities, such as using the bathroom, would be intriguing enough for others to want to read about them. That’s what he means by calling it arrogance.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I pen down my experiences, particularly those revolving around my Monty Python comrades whose lives continue to intertwine with mine, amidst rumors of a reunion or a musical adaptation of The Life of Brian. John Cleese and Eric Idle are predominantly based in Los Angeles, while Terry Gilliam is perpetually on the move, tirelessly attempting to bring his films to life. My neighbor, Terry Jones, frequently meets me for contemplative beers, as he navigates through a classic mid-life crisis, leaving his wife for a significantly younger woman. “He acknowledges that this entire situation makes him appear rather foolish,” I jot down, perplexed by his actions. I document not only my friend’s folly but also my own apprehensions, the intricate details of preparing for an overseas expedition, and so, we have a record of what transpired, providing us with a memory – a precious thing indeed. “A diary gives you a memory,” I reflect.

The diaries written by Terry Jones, particularly poignant as he battled frontotemporal dementia before his passing in 2020 at age 77, carry an air of illness and mortality. George Harrison, Jones’ friend and the one who rescued Monty Python’s “The Life of Brian” by finding $40 million when EMI films pulled out their support in 1978, succumbed to lung cancer in 2001. In these diaries, there’s a sense of the stage setting for farewells, as Jones appears not quite himself and the group grapples with the impending departures, making this diary unique with its undercurrent of time running out and loss.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d put it like this: For Palin, the most poignant sorrow wouldn’t strike until much later, an emotion etched in a diary yet unread. In 2023, Helen passed away in a hospice after battling kidney failure for years. In those diaries, her spirit remained vibrant as she agreed to his plans for travel documentaries. Palin penned about their marriage, “Love expands with the time I’m apart,” A sentiment he still holds, or so he claims, without any trace of regret? Yet, there’s a pause in his words. “I don’t harbor regrets, truly,” he says, but then hesitates. “Maybe towards the end, when I embarked on those later travel expeditions, like North Korea. At that time, Helen wasn’t well enough to care for herself, which made it a challenging period. I believe she didn’t want me to leave at that point, but she understood my passion for exploration and other cultures wasn’t about escaping home – quite the contrary.

After Helen passed away, he chose to carry on writing in her diary. Since she had been unwell for a few years, her passing wasn’t sudden, and he was there to support and care for her during her suffering. Writing in the diary helped him cope with everything that transpired. Some days were harder than others, but he needed to preserve those memories. In the aftermath of her death, it felt crucial to keep the diary going. If he had stopped, it would have been like saying, ‘My life is over now.’ He felt compelled to continue writing for her and the family. If they read the diary and found it ended on the day of Helen’s death, they might wonder how he managed to move on. Writing those difficult entries was challenging.

It’s likely that diaries capture our interest due to their resemblance to real life. They oscillate between the mundane and the significant; from deciding which socks to take on a trip to grappling with losing the person you love most. As he explains, “There were instances where I felt compelled to be truthful.” He discusses his sister Angela, who took her own life in 1987. He feels it’s important to talk about her because he doesn’t want her memory to fade away. He wouldn’t want to cease writing about Helen either, despite her suffering from a severe illness. Every person deserves to be heard, acknowledged, accepted, and understood, regardless of their health condition or struggles they may face.

Michael Palin’s There and Back: Diaries 1999-2009 is available to pre-order now

Furthermore, he continues his journeys, exploring different corners of the globe and sharing his experiences with us. His latest series focused on Nigeria, having previously covered Iraq, North Korea, and Brazil for Channel Five, following a decision by a commissioner at the BBC that traditional, private school-educated British men (such as Palin from Shrewsbury) were no longer suitable travel guides for their audience. “My last series for the BBC was Brazil [2012],” he remarks.

It seemed like the BBC aimed to exert more influence and manage things more closely. They introduced a new method of presenting shows that I found incredibly frustrating – they’d reveal all the best moments at the beginning, within the first five minutes, to keep viewers engaged. Otherwise, people might turn off once they saw Michael Palin. The BBC was moving towards a different approach, and their presentation style was evolving in a different direction as well.

Inquire about his preferred TV explorer and he chooses Joanna Lumley from ITV. ‘She journeys just as I do, to grasp the culture and people of a foreign land.’ Will he continue traveling? ‘Although I frequently discuss my sixties in my diaries, I’m now 81 and planning another series.’ His journals reveal an overwhelming list of activities; organizing trips, book tours, charity events. ‘I’m always harping on about the emails and requests for appearances,’ he mentions. ‘However, I won’t be secluding myself on a desert island any time soon, so I accommodate these inquiries. Yet, my limitations are due to the fact that I focus primarily on travel-related shows and decline invitations for game shows or Strictly Come Dancing… although I’ve been asked.’

It’s possible he gave careful consideration before declining Strictly Come Dancing. He explained, ‘I simply said no. I saw an opportunity to pursue a different route – one that involves being a beloved figure in public life without being confined to the role of a celebrity. I’m more of a solitary type, truth be told. The idea of being a celebrity or a personality doesn’t particularly appeal to me.’

Is it safe to say Palin considers him a friend, given their history together? He extends him understanding and feels for him in his low moments. But to put it straightforwardly, does he genuinely like him? Well, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have spent so much time writing about him. The real question is, do other people appreciate him? Judging by the length of these diaries, I suspect they do.

A condensed version of this feature appears in the latest issue of TopMob – subscribe here.

2024-09-23 19:34

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