Written by Micheal Palin & Terry Jones

Each episode had a completely different setting and completely different characters, each looking at a different aspect of British culture. The idea of "ripping yarns" parodied a pre-World War II schoolboy genre.

This disk also includes...
Comic Roots - Documentary (1983)
Secrets - Black comedy (1973)

Film directed by Terry Gilliam and starring M.Palin - very much in the style and historical period of Holy Grail.

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In 1905, after 10 years of missionary work in Africa, the Rev. Charles Fortesque is recalled to England, where his bishop gives him his new assignment - to minister to London's prostitutes. Charles hopes Deborah, his fiancee, will object and give him an excuse to say no to the bishop. But she is so imperturbably innocent that she totally fails to understand what he is being asked to do, and urges him to do his best. Wealthy Lady Ames is expected to fund the work, but once she makes it clear to Charles that there will be no contribution unless he shares her bed...

Michael Palin drew on his own memories of torturous holidays in grey, coastal towns when writing this gentle comedy set in England during the late 1950s. Very little of their inherent humour and horror escapes his attention: the gargoyle of a landlady who runs her B&B like a seaside stalag, the gruesome couple whom his parents invariably befriend, and predominantly, the crushing tedium of provincial holiday towns.

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At his new job at Butterworth Chocolates, Mr. Farris accidentally knocks several workers into a mixing vat, the contents of which are then sent to market. When reviews of the company's new candy come back, they are overwhelmingly negative, except for the areas that received the 'special ingredient'. Farris soon finds himself assigned the task of obtaining more of the ingredient to satisfy the nation's sweet tooth.

The first journey – and what an initiation. Dhows, diarrhoea, the Corinth Canal, hungry parrots and a bomb scare as a welcome home. And back in time to challenge Phileas Fogg. Just.

Phileas Fogg behind, Roald Amundsen ahead. And a mere 16 countries and both hemispheres to cover. Communism collapsed, civil wars sparked and Michael faced one of his most gruelling but rewarding journeys.

Four 50 minute episodes.

In Himalaya, Michael visits the Earth's greatest mountain range - 1800 miles from the borders of Afghanistan to southwest China. He'd covered none of this ground before, let alone milked a dri, washed an elephant or swum at 14,000 feet...

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A series in which arts presenter Mark Lawson has a 60-minute in-depth conversation with a notable figure. He also interviewed Terry Gilliam

Hammershøi painted around the start of the 20th century and many of his pictures have a distinct coolness and distance about them. Palin, wanting to know of his inspirations and the reason for these mystical pictures, starts his search in Hayward Gallery in London, goes to Amsterdam and finally the painters home town, Copenhagen (Denmark).

Seven 45 minute episodes

The shows feature interviews with some of the cast and crew of the subject programme, as well as footage from the series - Ripping Yarns.

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He spent the winter of 2007/ 2008 researching the last week of the war, and in particular with special reference to the last day. He had a genuine interest in WW1, having lost a great uncle on the Somme in 1916.

Palin is on the show promoting the second of his diaries Halfway To Hollywood, but we also see a lot of Palin's TV and Film roles.

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