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If only Michael Palin had stayed busy in the years since Monty Python's Flying Circus hung up its Spam, he might've found ways to travel around the world, from the North Pole to the Antarctica, through the Caribbean and throughout New Europe.
Wait. Never mind. He did.
For the last 20 years, Palin has been the undisputed king of travelogues, exploring the world in the documentary mini-series Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Hemingway Adventure, Great Railway Journeys, Sahara, Himalaya and New Europe. His irresistibly affable personality and casual, well-worn delivery made Palin the perfect everyman to follow through these long, potentially dangerous excursions.
To mark the 20th anniversary of 80 Days, the BBC announced that Palin will retrace his original steps in 80 Days Revisited -- due to be broadcast as a one-hour special on BBC1 later this year. The program will follow Palin as he returns to his path from Dubai to Bombay.
According to the BBC, as Palin sailed slowly down the Persian Gulf aboard one of world's oldest surviving sailing ships, he and his team formed a unique relationship with the Indian crew. After a week together at sea, Palin found their farewell at Bombay to be one of the most emotional moments on all his travels.
Now "20 years after they waved each other goodbye," and with the same cameraman, Palin sets out to search for that crew.
Meanwhile, fans looking to re-explore Palin's original journeys can check out The Michael Palin Collection -- the complete DVD set of Palin's discoveries so far.
Image courtesy BBC
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