TV traveller Michael Palin

THE cult of celebrity has come under attack from former Monty Python star Michael Palin who this week warned that the emphasis on starry names is ruining British TV.
Mr Palin, who lives in Gospel Oak, is now usually seen on our TV screens presenting travel documentaries from far-flung corners of the earth.
He received a special Bafta achievement award on Sunday, but believes the BBC remit for quality broadcasting is under attack from the cult of celebrity. He said: “There is too much celebrity TV. Serious ideas do have to fight to get seen, and documentary presenters are contributing to a culture of enthusiasm over knowledge.
“I have had to fight myself to keep my name out of programmes. They wanted it to be Michael Palin’s Himalayas. There is always a danger that personality will take over.
“But I have always identified myself with David Attenborough in making documentaries. His name is there because it is seen as a badge of quality.”
And Mr Palin revealed that television is never on in his Oak Village home, partly because he is never indoors.
But he watches TV while abroad. “TV in India is completely imbecile,” he pointed out.
“You have to appreciate that TV in this country is the best in the world and that when we attack our own TV we should do so in a critical way that helps us to keep up excellent standards.”
With his 62nd birthday due next month, Mr Palin doesn’t regard the Bafta accolade as a “golden handshake” to a long career. In any case, his special award was a silver mask, not the traditional golden one. “I don’t know if it is a slightly cheaper Bafta,” he joked. “My loo is full up with awards so it can’t go there. Maybe I’ll stick it in an outside loo.”
While delighted to be recognised for his talents, he believes his reputation is only as good as his last programme. “So you ought not to treat them with enormous significance,” he insisted. “These awards just keep you up to the mark.”
Other Bafta winners from Camden included Kentish Town news reader Jon Snow and Bloomsbury-based playwright Alan Plater.
Mr Palin criticised the organisers for failing to recognise the genius of the late Jack Rosenthal, the playwright whose photograph was flashed on the screen as one of those who had died in the past year. Mr Rosenthal, husband of actress Maureen Lipman, lived in Hampstead up to his death.
“He was one of the finest writers we had and it was an outstanding omission on a great night that his passing went by with just a photograph,” said Mr Palin.