| MICHAEL PALIN | |||
| 1943 | Born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on May 5th. Father an Engineer, Mother not. | ||
| 1948-57 | Attended Birkdale Preparatory School, Sheffield. First dramatic appearance as Martha Cratchit in school production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. (Fell off stage). | ||
| 1957-61 | At Shrewsbury School. Acting career confined to rear of classroom. | ||
| 1962 | Joined Brightside and Carbrook Co-Operative Society Players whilst working in publicity department of Edgar Allen & Co. Steelmakers. Won Best Perf. Gent Award at Co-op Drama Festival, Bradford. To Brasenose College, Oxford. Met Robert Hewison and wrote and performed first comedy material with him as cabaret at Oxford University Psychology Society Christmas Party. | ||
| 1964 | Wrote and performed material in HANG DOWN YOUR HEAD AND DIE, university production which transferred to Comedy Theatre, London. Appeared with Terry Jones and others in the Oxford Revue at Edinburgh Festival. Played McCann in ETC (Experimental Theatre Club) production of Pinter’s THE BIRTHDAY PARTY. Read a bit of History. | ||
| 1965 | Wrote, appeared in and directed THE OXFORD LINE, university revue at Edinburgh Festival. 2nd Class Modern History Degree. Left Oxford, collaborated with Terry Jones on his theatrical documentary, THE LOVE SHOW. Employed as co-compere of NOW, a TV pop show produced in Bristol for TWW. | ||
| 1966 | April: Married Helen Gibbins, a farmer’s daughter. Wrote with Terry Jones for various TV shows - KEN DODD SHOW, BILLY COTTON BANDSHOW, THE ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY HUDD, and was in the team of writers which won the Golden Rose of Montreux for BBC with THE FROST REPORT (John Cleese was in the cast). Wrote and acted in short films for BBC’s THE LATE SHOW. | ||
| 1967 | Wrote for FROST REPORTS, FROST PROGRAMME. Wrote, appeared in and helped script-edit A SERIES OF BIRDS (with John Bird for BBC-TV). Wrote and appeared in short films for TWICE A FORTNIGHT, BBC -TV. Wrote pantomime: ALADDIN for Palace Theatre, Watford. Teamed up with Eric Idle and Terry Jones to write and perform DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET, children’s comedy series which won Prix Jeunesse, Munich TV Festival. | ||
| 1968 | Wrote for Marty Feldman (two BBC series). Wrote BEAUTY AND THE BEAST pantomime for Watford Palace Theatre. Appeared with two Ronnies in FROST ON SUNDAY. Appeared in special TV show, HOW TO IRRITATE PEOPLE, written by and starring Graham Chapman and John Cleese. Wrote and performed second series of DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET. Wrote and performed in six-part series with Terry Jones, THE COMPLETE AND UTTER HISTORY OF BRITAIN for London Weekend TV. | ||
| 1969 | 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. | ||
| 1970 | MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS - the second series, broadcast on BBC Television. AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT (first Python movie). | ||
| 1971 | PYTHONS IN DEUTSCHLAND, 45 minute TV film set in Munich. All Pythons spoke German, fairly badly. Python won Silver Rose of Montreux award. MONTY PYTHON’S BIG RED BOOK published. | ||
| 1972 | MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS series 3 broadcast on BBC Television. PYTHON IN DEUTSCHLAND second TV film for Bavaria Atelier Munich. Pythons did not speak German this time. | ||
| 1973 | MONTY PYTHON’S FIRST FAREWELL TOUR - stage show toured UK and Canada. First American appearance on TONIGHT show. Joey Bishop standing in for Johnny Carson. Audience completely mystified. Co-wrote with Terry Jones a BBC television play SECRETS. Monty Python’s second book, THE BRAND NEW MONTY PYTHON BOOK. | ||
| 1974 | MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS, series 4, broadcast on BBC Television. Co-wrote and performed in MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. Co-wrote with Terry Jones BERT FEGG’S NASTY BOOK FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. | ||
| 1975 | Appeared in THREE MEN IN A BOAT, scripted by Tom Stoppard and directed by Stephen Frears - a film for BBC Television. Co-wrote with Terry Jones TOMKINSON’S SCHOOLDAYS for BBC Television. Co-wrote and appeared in PYTHON LIVE AT DRURY LANE, a four-week stage show at the Theatre Royal. Appeared with Terry Gilliam at US Federal Court, Foley Square, New York, in ‘Python vs. ABC’ case. | ||
| 1976 | Played lead in JABBERWOCKY, a film directed by Terry Gilliam. Co-wrote with Terry Jones THEIR FINEST HOURS - two short plays performed at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, directed by David Leland. Appeared in A POKE IN THE EYE, the first Amnesty International Charity Show at Her Majesty’s Theatre. MONTY PYTHON LIVE AT CITY CENTER - New York for three weeks. | ||
| 1977 | Co-wrote with Terry Jones RIPPING YARNS for BBC Television. (Series won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s Award for Best Comedy or Light Entertainment Programme of 1977) | ||
| 1978 | Co-wrote and appeared in MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN. Co-wrote with Terry Jones the book of RIPPING YARNS. Appeared as Eric Manchester in Eric Idle’s THE RUTLES. | ||
| 1979 | Co-wrote with Terry Jones three more RIPPING YARNS. Co-wrote and was contributing editor on MONTYPYTHONSCRAPBOOK. Appeared in THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALL, Amnesty International Comedy Gala at Her Majesty’s Theatre. | ||
| 1980 | Wrote and presented the British episode of GREAT RAILWAY JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD, from London to the Kyle of Lochalsh, for BBC Television. MONTY PYTHON LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, stage show. | ||
| 1981 | Co-wrote with Terry Gilliam and appeared in TIME BANDITS, a film directed by Terry Gilliam, and co-wrote accompanying book. MICHAEL PALIN’S FIRST ONE-MAN SHOW performed at the Belfast Festival. Contributed chapter to BBC book, GREAT RAILWAY JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD. | ||
| 1982 | Wrote SMALL HARRY AND THE TOOTHACHE PILLS, a children’s book. | ||
| 1983 | Wrote and appeared in THE MISSIONARY, a film with Maggie Smith and Trevor Howard. MORE THAN 35 MINUTES WITH MICHAEL PALIN, performed at the Belfast Festival. Wrote and appeared in COMIC ROOTS, an autobiographical film for BBC Television. [Bonus feature in Ripping Yarns DVD] Co-wrote and appeared in MONTY PYTHON’S MEANING OF LIFE which won Grand Prix Spécial du Jury at Cannes Film Festival | ||
| 1984 | Played Jack Lint in BRAZIL, a film directed by Terry Gilliam. Played the chiropodist in A PRIVATE FUNCTION, alongside Maggie Smith and Denholm Elliott. Played naughty husband in Eva Sereny’s short film, THE DRESS, with Phyllis Logan. Recorded children’s audio books: JACK THE GIANT KILLER, SCRAPEFOOT, MOWGLI’S BROTHERS, and HOW FEAR CAME. Co-wrote with Terry Jones DR FEGG’S ENCYCLOPEADIA (sic) OF ALL WORLD KNOWLEDGE (formerly The Nasty Book for Boys and Girls) | ||
| 1985 | Wrote LIMERICKS. THE LONGEST RUNNING SHOW OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD, performed at the Belfast Festival. | ||
| 1986 | Wrote three children’s books, CYRIL AND THE DINNER PARTY, CYRIL AND THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, and THE MIRRORSTONE, a project with Alan Lee and Richard Seymour. Became Chairman of Transport 2000, an environmental lobby group aiming to improve transport in the UK. Regular columnist for OPTIONS FOR MEN. | ||
| 1987 | MICHAEL PALIN’S 500 AND ONE-MAN SHOW, performed at the Belfast Festival.
Wrote film, EAST OF IPSWICH for BBC Television.
Wrote and appeared in THE CHAIRMAN for Central Television, about the work of Transport 2000. Retired from the Chair, made President of Transport 2000.
Monty Python team presented with Michael Balcon Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema at the BAFTA Awards | ||
| 1988 | Played Ken in the film A FISH CALLED WANDA. (Won Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Award) Wrote film NUMBER 27 for BBC Television | ||
| 1989 | Wrote and presented AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, travel documentary series for BBC Television. Wrote AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS for BBC Books to accompany the series. Recorded audio book of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. MICHAEL PALIN’S ONE MAN SHOW, performed at the Belfast Festival. Presented seven programmes in series THE ART OF TRAVEL for BBC North-East. | ||
| 1991 | Co-wrote and played lead part in AMERICAN FRIENDS, a film based on the life of Michael’s great-grandfather. Played Jim Nelson in GBH, a seven-part drama series by Alan Bleasdale for Channel 4. | ||
| 1992 | Wrote and presented POLE TO POLE, travel documentary series for BBC Television. (Won CableACE award for Best Recreation or Leisure Special or Series). Wrote POLE TO POLE for BBC Books to accompany the series. (Won ‘Publishing News’ Best Travel Writer Award) Recorded children’s audio book, THE MAN by Raymond Briggs. | ||
| 1993 | Recorded children’s audio book, JACK AND THE BEANSTALK. Appeared in A CLASS ACT with Tracey Ullman for Meridian Television. Played THE DRESSER with Freddie Jones as "Sir" in BBC Radio 4 Drama. Wrote and presented an episode of GREAT RAILWAY JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD, from Derry to Kerry, for BBC Television. Contributed a chapter to BBC book, GREAT RAILWAY JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD. | ||
| 1994 | Wrote and presented PALIN’S COLUMN, documentary series filmed on the Isle of Wight for Meridian Television. Wrote THE WEEKEND, a stage play, opened in Guildford in March, followed by six-week regional tour. Moved to West End in May. Recorded children’s audio book, ESIO TROT, by Roald Dahl. Wrote text for POLE TO POLE: THE PHOTOGRAPHS, a book of photographs by Basil Pao. | ||
| 1995 | Wrote first novel HEMINGWAY’S CHAIR, for Methuen. Voice of Ratty in Carlton Television’s animated THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS programmes. | ||
| 1996 | Appeared as the Sun in THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, directed by Terry Jones. | ||
| 1997 | Wrote and presented FULL CIRCLE, travel documentary series for BBC Television. (Won Television and Radio Industries Awards for Best Documentary and Best Presenter, Won Best Documentary at the National Television Awards 1998) Wrote FULL CIRCLE for BBC Books, to accompany the series. Played Bugsy, the insect-house keeper, in the film FIERCE CREATURES. Recorded audio book of FULL CIRCLE (Won Best Film or TV tie-in at the British Talkies Awards 1998) Co-wrote and presented PALIN ON REDPATH, an arts documentary about painter Anne Redpath, for BBC Scotland. | ||
| 1998 | New edition of LIMERICKS published by Red Fox, also recorded audio book. Given Royal Geographical Society’s Ness Award for ‘travels leading to a wider public appreciation of the world’. MICHAEL PALIN - THIRTY YEARS WITHOUT A PROPER JOB, performed at the Belfast Festival. | ||
| 1999 | Wrote and presented a four part travel documentary series entitled
MICHAEL PALIN’S HEMINGWAY ADVENTURE based on the travels
of Ernest Hemingway, BBC1, October. Accompanying book
published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Rerecorded audio book of HEMINGWAY ADVENTURE. Contributed to PYTHON NIGHT, a special evening to mark the 30th Anniversary of Monty Python, transmitted October 9th on BBC 2. Contributed to the BBC’s live coverage of the Millennium Events. | ||
| 2000 | Michael was made a CBE [Commander of the Order of the British Empire] in the 2000 New Year’s Honours List
for his services to television drama & travel. Awarded Butlins Billy Award 1999/2000 for ‘Most Fun TV Travel Presenter’ October, Methuen published Michael’s personal selection of favourite Python works in the book series POCKETFUL OF PYTHON Presented and co-wrote documentary on the Scottish Colourist painters, entitled THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE, transmitted 8th October on BBC2, and again 5th November on BBC Scotland. | ||
| 2001 | Awarded Butlins Billy Award 2000/2001 for ‘Most Fun TV Travel
Presenter’ (2nd year running) 20th June 2001 presented THE ROAD TO HELL for Transport 2000, BBC2, documentary on transport problems and how to solve them. | ||
| 2002 | September: SAHARA book published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson,
and October/November his fifth travel documentary series SAHARA
WITH MICHAEL PALIN, in four parts, shown on BBC1
Recorded audio book of SAHARA. December: received Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards. | ||
| 2003 | March, SAHARA WITH MICHAEL PALIN named Best Documentary
Programme at the Television and Radio Industry Club Awards. April: Michael’s 3rd art documentary for BBC TV, MICHAEL PALIN AND THE LADIES WHO LOVED MATISSE screened on BBC1. | ||
| 2004 | September: HIMALAYA published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson – (winner of British Book Award for best TV and Film Book of the Year) October/November Michael’s sixth travel documentary series HIMALAYA WITH MICHAEL PALIN, six one hour programmes shown on BBC1. (Michael won best presenter award for Himalaya from the Royal Television Society - Himalaya won a TRIC award for Best TV Music and Arts Programme) October: Audio book of HIMALAYA released. | ||
| 2005 | April – Michael was presented with a BAFTA Special Award. The Complete Ripping Yarns debuts on DVD in the U.S. | ||