Michael Palin

Last month’s Travels Of A Lifetime saw Sir Michael tell the personal side of his travel stories and discuss the making of his most iconic shows, including Around The World In 80 Days and Pole To Pole.

In this new special, Palin will revisit his journey of discovery in the Himalayas.

In Himalaya, Michael tested himself against the mountains that have long represented one of the ultimate challenges of exploration, passing through India, Pakistan, the Tibetan Plateau and Bhutan.

Seen again, almost three decades on, with the world at a virtual standstill due to Covid-19, Pole to Pole can induce mixed reactions. Michael Palin’s most adventurous trek is a delight. It overflows with the presenter’s love of travel and discovery, which, frustratingly, is precisely what we are missing right now.… Our only option is to soak up the sights and hope that, one day soon, we will be able to follow in Palin’s footsteps.

Fifty years ago, the BBC almost made a big mistake – one that would have changed the course of broadcasting history. After trying out a new recruit, head of television talks Mary Adams decided that her discovery had much to recommend him but, frankly, lacked the bland good looks considered necessary for the presenter’s art.

“David Attenborough is intelligent and promising and may well be producer material, but he is not to be used again as an interviewer. His teeth are too big,” ordered Adams.

Palin travelled over 1300 miles through the secretive country, at a historic moment for the region.

The presenter and his crew were in the country during the momentous meeting of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and South Korean president Moon Jae-In, and captured the reactions of ordinary citizens.

“The visit was an eye-opener for me, and I'm sure it will be the same for others,” said Palin, who returned from his trip earlier this month. “In all my travels around the world I have never had the same sense of fascination and revelation as on this journey to North Korea.”

Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies takes a look at the impact of the comedy brand, and visits historic landmarks linked to their films such as Leeds Castle in Kent and the backstreets of Battersea and Bermondsey, as well as the site of Ealing Studios.

Grant is joined on camera by fellow actors Mike Myers, Peter Capaldi, Michael Palin, and Stephen Fry in celebrating the once great name of Ealing Comedies.

Iconic British children's series, The Clangers, officially returned to the small screen yesterday, 46 years after the first episode aired. 484,000 people tuned in to see the reappearance of the treasured characters.

CBeebies is playing host to 52 episodes of the loveable pink creatures who live on a small blue planet. The classic, which enchanted viewers in the 1970s, has had a £5 million makeover.