Palin to publish his diaries

Michael Palin is to publish his private diaries from the time he was with Monty Python.

The comic, who has a reputation for being a 'nice guy', has kept a diary since soon after he married in 1966, when he was starting to make a name for himself as a scriptwriter.

Now the first volume of them, covering the Python years 1969 to 1979, are to be published in October.

Extracts were used in the 2003 Pythons’ autobiography, but this 700-page book will offer a lot more depth. It also promises to offer glimpses into the creation of Ripping Yarns, the Pythons’ fight to get on to American TV uncensored and his offer amusing anecdotes from his domestic life.

A spokesman for publisher Weidenfeld & Nicolson promised: ‘This first volume of the Michael Palin diaries is perceptive, revealing and often very funny.’

Click here to preorder the diaries.

Meanwhile, Palin has started filming his new travel series – much closer to home than his usual globetrotting adventures.

Palin's New Europe will examine the Eastern European countries soon to join the EU, and he has been filming in Split, Croatia, this week.

Writing on his occasional blog, the ex-Python said: ‘The idea is to look at the way people live now in countries which will all be part of the EU over the next few years.

‘Many of these countries didn't exist when I was born 63 years ago and those that did exist have been through difficult times.

‘We shall try to get off the beaten track and to convey some of the beauty of the remote, unspoilt parts of Europe, whilst never being more than three hours' flying time away from my new grandson, Archie.’

The series is due to air in autumn 2007, when a book of his journey will also be published.

• A Monty Python fan is being blamed for desecrating a cross in St Osyth, Essex, by adding the Life Of Brian line ‘He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy’ to the official ‘Christ is risen’ plaque.

Published: 28 May 2006