A ‘bereft’ Michael Palin expects his death is ‘going to happen sometime soon’

Fans of Monty Python legend Michael Palin might be feeling a tinge of concern after the 81-year-old star recently made a candid revelation about his own mortality.

In a recent interview with The Times, Palin reflected on his life and the recent loss of his wife before candidly sharing that while he isn’t fearful of death, he feels his own might be approaching soon.

“I’m in my 80s and lots of people don’t make it there. So I don’t have any great worries about death. I mean, it’s going to happen sometime soon,” he told the publication.

“I hear people say Euston station works are going to be finished in 2033 and think, ‘Oh, I won’t be around then.’

“But I’ve got so many interests — either books I’m researching or future travel series — which make me forget about mortality.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Palin discussed the loss of his beloved wife Helen.

Palin had previously announced the heartbreaking news of his wife’s death in May 2023 which came mere weeks after the loving couple celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.

As he continues to navigate life without Helen, Palian admitted that “it’s very odd, not having her here”.

“But that’s not just about travel. It’s about coming back from a night at the theatre or dinner and the first thing I want is to tell Helen, ‘That was c**p,’ or, ‘That was wonderful.’,” he said.

“I still feel quite bereft, because it’s the little things. The people we knew over such a long period whom I can’t talk about now to her. I still find that very difficult. But there we are.”

Palin and Helen married in 1966 after meeting on holiday in Suffolk in 1959. The couple have three children, Thomas (born 1969), William (born 1971), and Rachel (born 1975), and four grandchildren.

Palin rose to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the comedy group Monty Python, which produced some of the most iconic and groundbreaking comedy shows and films of all time. In addition to his work with Monty Python, Palin has had a successful solo career as a writer and presenter of travel documentaries, including Around the World in 80 Days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle, and Himalaya.

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