Michael Palin

Son of a Sheffield engineer, Michael was born on 5th May 1943 and he attended Birkdale Preparatory School. His first dramatic appearance was as Martha Cratchit in a school production of Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’, but his comedy career began early, when he fell off the stage!

 

In 1962 Michael joined Brightside and Carbrook Co-Operative Society Players whilst working in publicity department of Edgar Allen & Co, Steelmakers and won the Best Performing Gent Award at the Co-op Drama Festival in Bradford.

 

Michael set off to Brasenose College, Oxford, where he gained a degree in Modern History in 1965.

 

In 1969 Michael joined up with Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones for the first series of ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’, broadcast on BBC Television.

 

The second series followed in 1970 and the ‘Now For Something Completely Different’ - their first movie. The third series was screened in 1972 and the fourth in 1974, when ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ was released followed by ‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian’ in 1978.

 

The Monty Python characters appeared in books and on stage around the world through the late 1970s.

 

1980 saw the first of Michael’s ‘Great Railway Journeys of the World’ from London to the Kyle of Lochalsh for BBC TV.

 

Michael wrote and appeared in ‘The Missionary’ with Maggie Smith and Trevor Howard in 1983 and then he co-wrote and appeared in the ‘Monty Python Meaning of Life’.

 

He won the Best Supporting Actor Award from BAFTA for his role as ken in ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ in 1988.

 

Michael wrote and appeared in ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ for BBC TV in 1989 and in 1992 ‘Pole to Pole’. These were the beginning of a successful series of travel programmes for the BBC and in 1993 he presented an episode of ‘Great Railway Journeys of the World’ from Derry to Kerry. This was followed in 1997 by ‘Full Circle’ and in 1999 ‘Michael Palin’s Hemingway Adventure’ based on the travels of Ernest Hemingway.

 

Michael was made a CBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honours List for his services to television drama and travel and he was also awarded Butlins Billy Award for the ‘Most Fun TV Travel presenter’ for two consecutive years.

 

Michael’s fifth travel documentary series ‘Sahara with Michael Palin’ was shown on BBC1 in 2002 and later that year he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards.

 

In 2004 Michael’s sixth travel documentary series ‘Himalaya with Michael Palin’ was shown on BBC1 and in 2005 Michael was presented with a BAFTA Special Award.

 

Councillor Jan Wilson, Leader of Sheffield Council commented: "Michael has been a great ambassador for the city all over the world and we are proud of his achievements. He represents everything that is good about Sheffield - down to earth, a sense of humour and a warm, friendly character."