MICHAEL PALIN IN NORTH KOREA

EYE-OPENING TRAVELOGUE

‘This will be the most revealing journey of my life.’ In something of a coup in 2018, Channel 5 managed to not only secure the services of Michael Palin, but also gained unprecedented access to the most secretive country on the planet, which has been cut off from the outside world for 70 years. Although filming under strict supervision during his epic 1,300-mile journey,

Michael uses his considerable charm to coax rather more from his guides than they wanted to give, to provide a surprising portrait of this strange ‘Hermit Kingdom’. In the final episode he even tackles the tricky subject of the Korean War

(his minders aren’t too happy about it) and it’s the kind of risk that reminds you that you’re not watching the usual tourismadvert travel show.