TV star Palin on the Glasgow murder story he 'almost wrote'

His strangest idea for a novel, however, was inspired by a trip into Glasgow’s sewer system.

Michael, who is bringing his show based on his acclaimed diaries to Glasgow, explains: “Whilst in Spain, during the period of these diaries, I came across a drain cover with the words 'McNaughton and Son, Glasgow y Valencia' on it.

“This led me to an idea for a novel to be called Scottish Waste.”

He adds, smiling: “It all started with the discovery of a body in the sewers. The authorities in Glasgow allowed me to go down one of their sewers and I found a beautifully built tunnel which oddly, didn’t smell bad at all.”

Partick Pumping Station (Image: Scottish Water)

Michael adds: “And Partick Pumping Station is a very fine building. Glasgow seems to treat its sewage with respect.

“Sadly, the novel never got written.”

The enormously popular writer and broadcaster is bringing There and Back – The Diary Tour 2024 to the Pavilion Theatre on October 8.

Michael Palin (Image: John Swannell)

It is based on the fourth instalment of Michael’s acclaimed diaries, covering the years 1999 to 2009, which will be published on September 26. The author describes it as “70% comedy and 30% tragedy – much like life.”

As well as tracking his own life as he films four blockbuster travel documentaries and reaches the height of his fame as a much-loved TV traveller, it touches on the seismic global events of the time – the 9/11 and 7/7 bombings, and the financial crash.

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“I love the theatre tour because it's different every single night,” he says. “I get bored very quickly just doing the same thing.

“The great thing about doing these shows is that people come along because they know me. They’re not saying, ‘who is this Michael Palin? He’s just reading bits out of his diary. He doesn't jump through any flaming hoops or do any acrobatics.’”

He laughs.

“People who enjoy my work will be interested in the background to a lot of the major travel programmes that I did,” he says, “and how I decide what to do next, how I face challenges, and how I deal with getting older in a young person's world.”

There are no signs of Michael slowing down - his most recent travel documentaries took him to previously unexplored countries as North Korea, Iran and Nigeria. Now 81, he is in the early stages of planning another trip.

“I’m driven by curiosity,” he says. “It’s the same thing that David Attenborough says drives him.

"He just wants to know more and learn more. You never, ever come to the stage where you say, ‘right, I know it all now’. Absolutely not. The more you ask, the more you realise how little you know.”

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He says: “It keeps you healthy. Making programmes is very good for you mentally. You have to learn about a different way of life in totally different surroundings.

"You also have to be physically strong to do it. Filming is like a commando raid for three weeks. You just go in, get as much material as you can, and then come out again. I find that demanding and very exciting.”

Michael adds: “I'll do it until someone tells me to stop.”

Another major topic in the show is Michael’s family life.  Sadly, Helen, his wife of 57 years, died last year. The couple have three children and four grandchildren.

“I think a good diary includes whatever is happening to you at the time, so in these diaries, our last child leaves home... I turned 60 in 2003, and we discussed whether I would retire," he says, adding with a laugh: "Of course, I didn’t, but that was part of the family debate at the time."

He adds: “It's a holistic look at 11 years of my life when I was going from youthful exuberance into middle age.”

Of course, the Monty Python team get a mention too, and Michael pays tribute to their enduring friendship.

The Monty Python team (Image: BBC)

“The best thing is, when we do get together, we still make each other laugh,” he says.

“That's the basic thing which holds us together - our humour and our delight in laughter and the same kind of jokes.”

He adds, smiling: “John Cleese does a very good satire of my travel shows.”

The cultural legacy of Python, which give the world the Dead Parrot Sketch, the Spanish Inquisition scene and Life of Brian, is something Michael has never taken for granted.

“I realise my contribution to the world is as a parrot salesman,” he jokes.

“I never forget that.”