Michael Palin reveals how a Monty Python sketch saved him from being thrown in a Colombian jail

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Let me tell you, asking Michael Palin about finding a new travel buddy felt a bit…off, especially considering he lost his wife of 57 years just two and a half years ago. But I did ask. His answer was perfectly kind, but a firm no. He misses his wife, Helen, terribly on trips – he recently vacationed with his family in Italy and realized he’s now the oldest one in the group! He clearly values having someone who understands things from a similar perspective, someone to share those knowing eye-rolls with. And, frankly, he’s just not interested in dating right now. It was a gentle, but definitive, closing of the chapter.

This might be disappointing for women who enjoy his travel shows – he’d seem like the ideal travel companion – but thankfully we can still join him on his adventures through his clever, thoughtful, and casually knowledgeable writing.

Michael Palin’s recent trip to Venezuela is featured in a three-part series of the same name. When deciding where to travel, Palin collaborates with the director, Neil Ferguson. Ferguson usually suggests new locations, while Palin admits he just prefers not to stay in one place for too long. He describes his love of travel as a kind of restless energy, a need to keep moving and exploring the world.

So, he already has someone traveling with him. People are wondering if they argue like a couple, but he insists they have good discussions. He jokingly explained that he’ll tell his companion he might be too frail for something at 82, and his companion will reassure him he’s okay. It seems Channel 5, who are likely covering the travel insurance, also wants him to continue his trips.

I brought up Venezuela, wondering why it was chosen as a subject. The speaker admitted it’s always seemed like a bit of an enigma, but its name has a certain appeal. They explained it’s a good fit for their show’s premise – exploring places where things have gone wrong. Venezuela has incredible resources – oil, minerals, beautiful beaches, and mountains – yet around eight million people, more than a quarter of the population, have left in the last decade. Despite being a vibrant Latin American culture that enjoys art, food, and celebration, they’re currently living under immense pressure due to a dictatorial regime.

It’s not surprising that Palin and her team also found themselves under scrutiny. While filming in a town called Sabaneta, they initially attracted curiosity from locals. This quickly escalated as they were questioned by increasingly official-looking people – first by those in plain clothes, then by uniformed officers, and finally by heavily armed intelligence agents in full gear, who weren’t friendly.

I imagine you eventually told them who you were, right? They didn’t strike me as the type of people you’d casually mention your comedy sketches to – it’s hard to talk about the Spanish Inquisition when someone’s pointing a gun at you. But eventually, one of them searched for your name and the first result was a YouTube clip of you and John Cleese having a serious debate about Life of Brian with Malcolm Muggeridge and the Bishop of Southwark from 1979 – apparently, that’s the only time you’ve ever been truly passionate and angry on television. They watched it and were surprised to learn you were a comedian.

Despite that, there’s no rush to leave the lounge. Palin casually mentioned that Venezuela was his 100th country visited, but he pointed out there are around 204 countries in the world, meaning he’s still less than halfway through his travels. The energetic octogenarian added with a cheerful glint in his eye that he’s also over three-quarters of the way through his life.

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2025-10-20 23:18