Michael Palin is a national treasure, and that's a heartwarming thing. We may celebrate idiocy - however sweet-natured - in the Big Brother house, but when push comes to shove, we really appreciate people who are funny, intelligent, and interested in the world around them. Stephen Fry is one of those people, and Michael Palin is another. After helping to create one of the finest television shows ever to grace our screens in Monty Python's Flying Circus, he decided to turn his attentions to bringing the great wide world into our living rooms, through shows such as Himalaya, Pole To Pole and Sahara.
Last night Michael Palin's New Europe (BBC One, Sundays 9pm) started, a new series in which Palin attempts to reappraise Eastern Europe, and persuade us that those countries which used to be behind the Iron Curtain are now our neighbours. As such, he argues, it's perhaps time we learned a little more about them. The process has already started through tourism (and second-home buying) but Palin probes a little deeper.
Last night's journey began in the Slovenian Alps - with familiar western Europe on one side, and the rather more unknown part of our continent on the other. As he moved onto Croatia, we met a country which is perhaps the most at ease with its position as the crossroads between east and west. In fact, it's portrayed as quite a relaxed, almost hedonistic place (he is plied with strong wine and good food from all quarters) which is utterly comfortable with mixing its ancient roots with modern life - a high-street bank is tacked onto a Roman palace. The people Palin meets are happy to be living in a democratic, post-Communist state, are proud of their country, and even have enough confidence in it to be critical. Indeed, they now revel in that right.
As Palin moves further east, this relaxed, confident attitude is in shorter supply, and the countries become less recognisable as the Europe we think of. The Balkan wars of the 1990s loom larger.
Palin's interest in 'characters' and quirky traditions can sometimes mean that his programmes threaten to turn into an international edition of The One Show, but then an interview will reveal an intimate insight into the place, something that can only come from those 'real people' in which Palin is so interested. This happened when he talked to Bosnian citizens - as he said, they want to move on from the wars, but are also unwilling to forget them. Give them enough time to speak, as Palin does, and they eventually, inevitably, return to the subject.
On a personal level, I just think it's a shame that a little more background information on the break-up of Yugoslavia wasn't given - Palin can attract younger viewers than most documentary makers, and as such I don't believe I was the only one left a little confused about the recent past of these countries.
This programme was constantly looking back, and suggested that an Albanian mayor's policy of bringing swathes of colour to his town is literally just painting over the cracks of a region struggling to regain its own identity. Hopefully, the next episodes will look forward, and show us what Eastern Europe has to offer now, and what it will become in the future. [annawaits]
Missed the first programme, when is it repeated
Micheal Palins New Europe is 99% political broadcast 1% travelogue. It was all about trying to get the unsuspecting viewer (who had tuned in expecting a travelogue, rather than a pro Turkey joining the EU propaganda broadcast) to support Turkey joining the EU. Typical of the BBC's lefty liberal bias. Can't believe that I'm having to pay a licence fee to be brainwashed with this lefty-liberal filth. How can anyone trust the BBC when all their programmes have been infected with this institutional lefty liberal bias?
Michael Palin's New Europe documentary about Albania was very disappointing, no background research was done about the country and they only showed the bad parts of Tirana and a tradition of slaughtering a sheep for people to get work??
They probably showed the bit about the sheep to make more dramatic TV.
I am Albanian myself and have never heard of this tradition?! Where does it derive from?
Michael Palin went to Kruje and the most important part which is the Scanderbeg castle built around 1400 century was not shown.
None of the cities like Berat or Gjirokaster were shown that are traditional and protected by Unesco for being authentic. South side of Albania is beautiful, especially Saranda which is a touristic place. There are many natural resources outside this town (eg Blue Eye and the best archeological amphitheatre with it's baptistry and church in Butrint)
How could he have missed such things.
He even tempted to mention Albanian's are not very friendly?! So untrue- Albanian's are known for being welcoming and very friendly.
It's a shame he didn't show it in a more positive light. Usually Michael Palin is pretty good so I am surprised with this documentary and was expecting a lot more from him!
I agree with Kristin....I'm enjoying this series but regarding the first episode I was a bit disappointed with what was shown in Albania. My husband is Albanian and I have visited this beautiful country 3 times visiting many cities from Fier in the South, Tirana in the middle and up to Shkodra in the North. I think showing a sheep being sacrificed wasn't necessary and I didn't like the fact that it hopped on the Muslim bandwagon...there are a lot of Albanians who are Orthodox Christian or Catholic so why just show what only Muslim families do? A lot of Albanians are secular anyway and many don't even practice a religion due to their Communist past. Also in Kruje where Mr Palin walked along cobbled-stoned streets is where Skanderbeg was born/had his castle. He fought against the Turkish Ottoman occupation and is a big hero of Albania. Both the castle and museum are wonderful and were not shown in the programme. There has been a lot of money spent at this historic site. I think Albania sometimes gets a raw deal in the public eye and programmes like this can make a real difference to people's perceptions of the people and culture. There are many wonderful places, countryside and scenery including Roman ruins in Albania.
Ever wondered if Albania has any important places to be included in a TV show? If it has then you can't expect for a British to find out by himself, one has to show him.
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Caroline doesnt know anything about albania or the people. Ur just a silly little english girl dats being used.
Caroline doesnt know anything about albania or the people. Ur just a silly little english girl dats being used.
Reply to El : I know more than you do about the country and know many Albanians (although maybe you are secretly Albanian yourself?). I am not being used. I'm happily married for over 3 years (we have been together for over 5 years) and we have a baby daughter together which is probably more than you have achieved by the sounds of things. You sound like a very sad person. Oh and I'm not English! Irish actually...don't jump to conclusions and this site doesn't need 'silly' posts from people like you. Get a life love.
Can I ask if anyone can tell me where I can buy Mr. Palins bag he uses in the series.
Can anyone tell me when a repeat of the show is on
I have really enjoyed this series thoughsome of the people he televises are somewhat quirky in their interests and perhaps not typcal of their country.It is difficult to cover all these countries with adequate depth.
It is questionable whether Turkey should have been included as most of it isn't really in Europe. Also Russia west of the Ural Mountains is historically considered to be in Europe, a fact that is almost always forgotten.
I have really enjoyed this series thoughsome of the people he televises are somewhat quirky in their interests and perhaps not typical of their country.It is difficult to cover all these countries with adequate depth.
It is questionable whether Turkey should have been included as most of it isn't really in Europe. Also Russia west of the Ural Mountains is historically considered to be in Europe, a fact that is almost always forgotten.
I was extremely disappointed with the way Slovakia was shown in last nights (28/10/07)New Europe. It only showed about 2 min. of Slovakia and that was also only a small Village in the mountains explaining how Slovakians kill a pig. Why is that the Czech Republic had about 10-15 min of the program and we were shown the best parts of it??
I am Slovakian myself and feel that the program has out-casted the Slovakian nation. I can now expect to be asked by the English how to kill a pig even thou I've never did that.
Thanks for nothing Michael Palin.
Palin's documentaries fail to give a picture of eastern europe NOW. In particular I was disappointed with how he portrayed Albania. This country has changed so much in the last decade and Tirana is emerging as one of the new emerging European capitals yet the BBC talks of bunkers and killing pigs. Palin may have got a holiday out of it but his work wasn't newsworthy and worthy of a prime slot in the BBC, it was indeed offensive and tiresome to watch. There is a huge appetite for realistic information on these countries in terms of what is happing right now. I achieved that by holidaying in Tirana last year abnd was indeed impressed with the pace of change not to mention weather, hospitality, traditions and natural beauty of the country.
I am yet another person to be very disappointed in what I had been looking forward to watching so much! I am a Slovakian and have visited most of the featured countries and actually - to say “disappointed” is an understatement. Michael Palin's New Europe is misleading and portrait what you call Eastern European countries with patronising enjoyment of someone who clearly grew up in a bubble of ignorance!
I guess it is more disappointing coming from someone like Michael Palin who one’d expect more from than some drunken English lads that come to our cities for Stag dos. I have always found Michael Palin a bit silly but lovely and thought of him as obviously intelligent and now I am just wondering if he doesn’t have enough common sense to see that he is insulting us all, including the UK viewers?!
How does he think it makes people from those countries feel when he picks the biggest weirdoes and village drunks for interviews? How does he think that it is OK to spend all the time on portraying Slovakia in one remote village showing a pig being killed by what we Slovakians would call simple village people and to spend all the time in Czech republic with narrow minded people with very quirky interests? In Prague he announces that the best way to show the city is from it’s river, but than all is shown is him talking to this hippie bird with some very strong and odd opinions! She is even claiming that Czechs hate all the nations around them which I would just like to clarify in name of my neighbour friends is far from the truth!
I was watching the programme with my English friends who have been to various countries in former communistic block they were also disappointed by the programme.
I was trying very hard to not to take the programme too seriously and I understand that the program was meant to be entertaining, but was it meant to be “Borat goes Middleclass”?
In times of political and racial correctness being so strongly implemented in this country, I am infuriated that BBC can get away with airing program such as this!
Thank you for ,such,a documentary...I completely agree with previous comments,regarding killing pigs in Slovakia....I have to warn English tourists comming in Bratislava and searching for some... pigs...they could be a bit dissapointed..maybe they will find only one,naked,speaking english and masturbating in one of local fontain..:-)(I am talking about one brittish tourist arrested and released for'bad'behavior few months ago)....
PLEASE CONTACT ME MR. PALIN.WE ARE GOING TO SLOVAKIA,AND YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A PROPER PROGRAMME ABOUT SLOVAKIA.I THINK THE TITLE SHOULD READ.....REPENTANCE FROM MICHAEL..... AS MY SCHOOL REPORTS SAID....COULD DO BETTER....COULD DO BETTER....COULD DO BETTER....ETC. WITH LOVE ANGUSKY [NORTHERN IRELAND FRIEND OF SLOVAKIA]