Come and chat to Michael Palin, Thursday 11 September, midday - 1pm.

[RachelMumsnet]

We're just a bit excited that the comedic legend that is Michael Palin will be joining us at Mumsnet Towers on Thursday (11 September) between midday and 1pm when he will be telling us about his latest book and answering YOUR questions. Furthermore, all those who join the webchat will be entered into a draw to win a SIGNED Copy of Travelling To Work and 2 tickets to his first ever one man show.

"I'm drawn to risk like a moth to a flame" writes MP and the latest volume of his diaries are proof of this, charting his life and work from 88 - 98, a period when he was seriously in demand as a presenter, actor and author. His work took him across the world (Around the World in 80 Days), saw him tackle his toughest role yet (in Alan Bleasdales' award winning drama series GBH) and pen his first novel, Hemingway's Chair'. He writes of the diaries: 'The great journeys which underpin these diaries made me realise, more clearly than ever before, that I don't like to be confined to the main road ahead, that I'm drawn to the backstreets and the side alleys, to the quirky ordinariness of everyday life, to the unexpected and the unexplored.'

Michael has just launched his first ever one-man show 'Travelling to Work' which is touring the UK over the next few weeks. Find out details of tour dates on Michael's website.

Come and chat to Michael on Thursday at midday and if you're unable to join us at that time, put your question to him in advance by posting it up on this thread.

I suppose I should ask a proper question. I've just got in from working with very silly children and I think it's affecting my brain.

Michael, which is your favourite of the Ripping Yarns tales? I love every one of them and think you should recreate Across the Andes by Frog in your travel programmes.

@Whitershadeofpale

Hi Michael,

My 4 year old nephew has recently discovered Pythons and laughs his head off at silly walks and the fish slap. Do you find it bizarre how new generations are constantly discovering your work?

Yes, I do. When we made the Python shows, I think we expected them to last about a year and then become obsolete. The fact that we now have people young enough to be our great grandsons still finding the shows funny is both rather wonderful and also a little inexplicable. I think possibly it shows that there is something universal in Python, and that's a sense of silliness. Children have this naturally. So to see adults behaving the way they do on Python probably confirms their idea that the world is as absurd as anything they can invent.

@NormaStanleyFletcher

Michael, would you like to come for dinner sometime? Or failing that lunch?

And , inevitably, what is your favourite biscuit?

Dark chocolate covered digestive. Digestive biscuits were what I was always given when we were on holiday and had bathed in the North Sea. My mother would dig out a digestive biscuit and insist that we ate it whilst our teeth were still chattering.

Thnank you

Thanks for answering! Poor Robert Lindsay...

@DeathStar

Hi Michael,

I loved your 20-year (25-year?) reunion with the boatmen in India/Asia. Have you managed to trace or kept in touch with anyone else from your earlier travels? There must be a whole series in that :)

A good idea, DeathStar, I have a number of people who I keep in touch with via the wonders of email - my guide in Tibet, my guide in Bangladesh, and people I've met in remote corners of Pakistan. It's wonderful to be able to hear about the world from the point of view of people who live in these places. Very often their view is quite different from what you read in the news or hear on television. I value these contacts and yes, maybe one day I should go round the world and see them all again. But I am 71!

Oh!

I can't wait to show this to ds1!
I would love to know who turned it down!
Thank you for answering my question and good luck with the tour x

@YouTheCat

I suppose I should ask a proper question. I've just got in from working with very silly children and I think it's affecting my brain.

Michael, which is your favourite of the Ripping Yarns tales? I love every one of them and think you should recreate Across the Andes by Frog in your travel programmes.

I liked Golden Gordon, it was a great way of dealing with the problems of supporting consistently failing football teams. I enjoyed playing Gordon the hero for various reasons, not least I got to smash the house up every time the team lost. It was also George Harrison's favourite and I gave him a t-shirt with the names of all the Barnstoneworth players on it.

What a fantastic reply, thank you! I would even adore to see a book of these collected 'correspondences' if a documentary was not possible...

Re. I value these contacts and yes, maybe one day I should go round the world and see them all again. But I am 71! - may I volunteer on your behalf?? :) x

I think A private function has to be my fave film of yours :)
Happy times with my best friend watching it instead of revising for our exams :)

Thank you very much.

@Badvoc123

Oh!

I can't wait to show this to ds1!
I would love to know who turned it down!
Thank you for answering my question and good luck with the tour x

Alan Whicker, Miles Kington, Noel Edmonds and I think Clive James.

I can't believe I didn't think to ask Michael Palin for a date! Silly me.

From all your travels and immersing yourself in different cultures do you have any words of wisdom for people to get along better?

Noel Edmonds!!?

Clive James would have been good, I guess, but soooo glad you got the gig! :)

@dinkystinky

Wow - Michael Palin! I love his travel programmes and am so envious of the amazing places he's been!

Michael - what is your best/most memorable family holiday and why?

Taking my two boys then about 10 and 12 around California and Nevada showing them the tallest trees in the world, swimming in a pool on the hottest day of my life in Death Valley, California and flying round the Grand Canyon. Despite all my geographical encouragement, the part of the holiday that they enjoyed most was a night in the bowling alleys at Las Vegas.

Noel Edmunds! They dodged a bullet there then.

My daughter has been quoting Python at me since she was 5. She's nearly 20 now and I feel Python has a lot to offer parenting techniques.

Oooh, just found this and can't think of a question. Damn.

Just to say that you're my favourite Python (even considering the actual snakes and I am a biologist). :)

@SamCollins

Hi Michael,

You do a lot of work with / for a local primary school - Gospel Oak. I was wondering what is it that drives you to support / work with children of this age, particularly in what is a typical inner city primary school with the challenges / joys that they have?

Thank you!

Sam

P.S Also, would you come into my daughters school, neighbouring Fleet School - i'm very jealous that G.O has all your love smile

I'm a patron of Carlton School in Gospel Oak, it's a school composed of children from all over the world and I think that's what first attracted me to helping out there. I talked to 8 and 9 year olds about my travels and their enthusiasm and curiosity was really inspiring. I think a lot of them were rather homesick, and enjoyed hearing me talk about travels to their country. I feel that inner city primary schools can be tough places, but I find that one must never forget how responsive children are and how bright they are. So if I feel I can help to bring some of that out, that's great. I've always been driven by curiosity and I think that should be encouraged in all children.

@CrewElla

I can't believe I didn't think to ask Michael Palin for a date! Silly me.

From all your travels and immersing yourself in different cultures do you have any words of wisdom for people to get along better?

I think the key is to listen and learn. Don't feel frightened or threatened because people have a different language or a different culture or even a different way of life. In my experience, they are as interested in you as you are in them and there are always points of shared experience - food, laughter, children, sport etc. You should be able to connect on some level with anybody, just don't try and push it and be prepared to eat, drink and smile at everything!

I really enjoyed engaging with you all from Mumsnet Towers, sorry I couldn't get to all the questions, but I love the fact that they covered so many different areas of my life. It certainly made me aware that I've done a lot in my 71 years, so now it's up to you all. Go for it!

Thank you - its been a quick and interesting hour!
Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday :)

Thank you, Michael Palin, you seem delightful!

What a lovely webchat.

Thank you for a lovely afternoon.

Thank you, it was a lovely discussion and an opportunity for insight I never thought I would have - much love and respect x