Although best known internationally for his roles as Arthurian knights and louche lumberjacks, Michael Palin has spent most of the last fifteen years exploring far-flung corners of the globe. The Monty Python man has gone 'Around the World In 80 Days', scaled the heights of the Himalayas, crossed the Sahara Desert and even planted his flags in the North and South Poles.
Palin's latest television adventure may be a tad less intrepid than his norm, but the subject matter gives him plenty to get his teeth stuck into. As the title suggests, 'Palin's New Europe' focuses on the former Eastern bloc, with as many as twenty countries coming under the spotlight.
"Everywhere we've been, from Tallinn to Transdniestria, has delivered fascinating material," Palin reveals. "The series could be called 'Neglected Neighbours', because, for so long, certainly in most of my life, it was so difficult to visit these places. So there's a feeling, on both sides, of hurrying to make up for lost time. Now I can see we have a lot in common and for once in my life the history of Europe as a whole begins to make sense. "
The BBC series is now in post-production, and six one hour episodes are planned, with an accompanying book.
In Poland, Palin has been spotted in all kinds of unlikely destinations. It turns out that he even found time to join a comics' cabaret in Elblag.
Of the mistaken English belief that all the Poles have jumped ship to Blighty, the presenter has a message: "If I hear one more wag tell me there's no-one left in Poland as they're all over here, I might get violent!"
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