...but released after the Venezuelans watch the fish-slapping sketch

Sir Michael Palin has revealed how he was held at gunpoint by armed guards in Venezuela – but was released thanks to a Monty Python sketch

The 82-year-old was detained by the intelligence service and held for hours while filming a new Channel 5 travelogue.

He told the Mirror: ‘Things got quite heavy. It wasn’t just the fact that they stopped us from filming; it was the force with which we were stopped.

‘It started with a couple of policemen, then a couple of the National Guard, and then along came men with rifles, bulletproof vests, and helmets.

‘It was the kind of thing you’d expect to encounter if an embassy was being bombed, it was quite alarming.’

But he was released after the guards found out about his comedy past – and the fish-slapping dance

Palin explained: ‘The outcome was rather bizarre, because while we were waiting to hear our fate from the headquarters in Caracas, the guards had found my name on Google.

‘Eventually they got on to Monty Python clips and they watched the fish slapping dance, which is always a good thing to show people.

‘Nearly everyone in the world, from North Korea to Venezuela, cracks up when they see that. Once we’d shown them the fish slapping dance, I felt we were OK, and by the end of the day they finally released us.

‘But I did feel we could well be watched from thereon in, given the detention we endured at gunpoint.’

Michael Palin In Venezuela airs on Tuesday September 16 at 9pm on Channel 5.

Published: 9 Sep 2025