Michael Palin

Michael Palin

Date of birth: 05-05-1943
Born in in Sheffield, Michael Palin read history at Oxford where he met Terry Jones, and they started writing comedy together. Their partnership continued after graduation and they wrote for the likes of Roy Hudd and Ken Dodd before joining The Frost Report and The Late Show, where they met Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Eric Idle. Monty Python’s Flying Circus firmly established Palin's comic reputation, writing and starring in 45 Python episodes and five feature films. Afterward, he worked on the intermittent story series Ripping Yarns, and wrote and starred in the 1982 film The Missionary, a big screen career that also included A Private Function, Brazil and A Fish Called Wanda, which won him a Bafta. His dramatic roles on television have included political drama GBH, for which he was nominated for a Bafta in 1992. He has also written and presented a host of critically-acclaimed travel documentaries, including Around The World In 80 Days, Pole To Pole, Michael Palin’s Hemingway Adventure, Sahara, Full Circle and Himalaya.
Read More

Michael Palin cancels book tour after fall

Comic, 83, broke ribs and fractured pelvis

Sir Michael Palin has cancelled his upcoming book tour after he fractured his ribs in a fall.

The 83-year-old joked that the accident, in the bathroom at his home, was ‘a comedy fall with no audience there to see it’ – and also left him with a minor pelvic fracture.

He had been due to make 13 UK appearances, starting in Norwich tomorrow, to launch his new travel book In The Philippines, which promoters will now reschedule. 

In a statement posted to Instagram, the Monty Python star wrote: ‘My accident was quite unsensational, a slip in the family bathroom where I've walked for 58 years.

‘I fell heavily on my left side resulting in three fractured ribs and a minor pelvic fracture. The recovery of bone fractures takes a long time especially when you're 83.

‘It was a comedy fall with no audience there to see it. I shall stick to fish slapping dances from now on.

‘Sincere apologies to everyone who has already put in a lot of work on the tour. I'd also like to say a huge thanks to the NHS for their incredible care'

A statement on Sir Michael’s website said ticket holders will be contacted about rescheduled dates ‘as soon as they are available’.

Read More

Published: 14 Oct 2026

Skip to page

Agent

We do not currently hold contact details for Michael Palin's agent. If you are a comic or agent wanting your details to appear here, for a one-off fee of £59, email steve@chortle.co.uk.

We see you are using AdBlocker software. Chortle relies on advertisers to fund this website so it’s free for you, so we would ask that you disable it for this site. Our ads are non-intrusive and relevant. Help keep Chortle viable.