Sir Michael Palin Pays for Care Home Stay, Then Travels to the Philippines

Sir Michael Palin, the 83‑year‑old former Monty Python star, surprised listeners by admitting he has paid to stay in a care home. He says he is “the only person in the country who’s been in a care home and been paid for it,” a remark that drew laughter during his recent interview.

The comment came after Palin was filmed inside an actual nursing home for Mackenzie Crook’s BBC1 sitcom *Small Prophets* earlier this year.

In *Small Prophets*, Palin portrays a man who discovers a formula for growing tiny magical creatures called homunculi.

He admits he didn’t quite understand the script but praised the writing, adding “I like Mackenzie’s work, so I said yes.” The role required him to act mostly asleep, which he notes left the residents “in better shape than me,” and he said he’d be happy to return to the home even without a script.

Palin’s latest travel series for Channel 5 finds him exploring the Philippines, a Far‑Eastern archipelago of more than 7,000 islands with striking beaches.

He notes that “forty .” During his stay he met President Bongbong Marcos at the opulent presidential palace and observed Manila’s poverty‑ridden neighborhoods where some residents survive on “pagpag,” meat and other restaurant scraps reheated on market stalls.

## Background & Context

Palin’s career spans five decades, beginning with the BBC’s 1989 *Around the World in 80 Days*. He recalls that hosts Noel Edmonds, Alan Whicker, journalist Miles Kington and Clive James were originally offered the job before he accepted.

His television work has always combined travel with a lighthearted tone, and he has expressed frustration at recent BBC cuts, especially to the World Service. “It has a huge international following. In many parts of the world it’s regarded as the only broadcaster that tells the truth,” he says, adding that “I despair over BBC cuts.”

Health-wise, Palin underwent heart surgery in 2019, after which he stopped running on London’s Hampstead Heath. He now does fifteen minutes of daily stretching and Reformer Pilates resistance training to stay fit.

Despite his age, he remains an active entertainer, noting that “the airports and plane journeys are the hardest thing.” He says part of what keeps him moving is the desire to keep audiences engaged, adding that “as I get older, it’s more important than ever to keep doing something.”

Personal loss has also shaped Palin’s recent outlook.

His wife Helen died in 2023 after a battle with kidney failure, and he says she chose to stop dialysis “because she didn’t want to become an invalid.” The experience influenced his view on assisted dying: “There are a lot of people who find life intolerable: given all the associated safeguards, I’m in favour.” He still has three children and four grandchildren who keep him busy.

## What People Are Saying

Palin has expressed enthusiasm for returning to the care home, saying he would be happy “even without a script.” He also reiterated that travel shows should continue on the BBC, describing them as “the sort of thing the BBC should be making.” When asked about future collaborations with former Python co‑stars, he mentioned recent talks with John Bishop and John Lloyd, noting they were “very relaxed and enjoyable so perhaps we old Pythons will do something like that.” He remains upbeat about his longevity: “I feel very lucky to be doing what I’m doing.

I have a great family. I’ve met some fascinating people. I’m an optimist.”

His visit to the Philippines included a dance routine performed by inmates at a local prison, which he chose not to join.

He described the dancers as “so good” and said that “the dancing is compulsory, but it means they can at least get out of their overcrowded cells for a while.” His remarks on poverty echo his earlier observation that “wherever there’s poverty there’s inventiveness, not hopelessness.”

## What Happens Next

The Channel 5 series will air Monday nights at 9 p.m., offering viewers a blend of adventure and social insight. The accompanying book, published by Hutchinson Heinemann, will be released on Thursday, giving fans another way to follow Palin’s Philippine journey.

While he has no immediate plans to retire from presenting, he remains open to new projects, especially those that combine his travel expertise with his comedic legacy. He concludes that “you have to be open, you have to say, ‘Tell me more!’ rather than, ‘That’s enough, I don’t want to hear that!’”

Palin’s recent comments underscore a simple truth: age has not dampened his curiosity or his willingness to explore new settings—whether that’s a care home or a bustling city street. His continued presence on screen promises more stories that blend humor, history, and human resilience.