Events & Programs

Actor, comedian and author Michael Palin discusses his travel books, and memoirs, including the recently published second half of his diaires, Halfway to Hollywood: 1980-1988.

About Michael Palin

Michael Palin established his reputation with Monty Python's Flying Circus and Ripping Yarns. His work also includes several films with Monty Python, as well as The Missionary, A Private Function, an award-winning performance as the hapless Ken in A Fish Called Wanda, American Friends and Fierce Creatures. His television credits include two films for the BBC's Great Railway Journeys, the plays East of Ipswich and Number 27, and Alan Bleasdale's GBH. He has written books to accompany his seven very successful travel series Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Hemingway Adventure, Sahara, Himalaya and New Europe. He is also the author of a number of children's stories, the play The Weekend and the novel Hemingway's Chair. In 2006 the first volume of his diaries, 1969-1979: The Python Years, spent many weeks on the bestseller lists, as have his travel books. In 2008 he filmed Around the World in 20 Years a programme celebrating his first travel series, Around the World in 80 Days. In 2009 the second volume of his diaries, Halfway to Hollywood: 1980-1988, was published.

Read a reivew of Halfway to Hollywood from The Guardian (UK)