Michael Palin in Nigeria is a three-part Channel 5 series that sees the comedian and presenter explore Nigeria, otherwise known as the ‘Giant of Africa’. He will travel 1300 miles, from the chaos of Lagos to the tropical landscapes of the south.
“I wanted to test myself physically to see if I could still do this at 80, but I also found it was very good for me in terms of my mental capacity – you’re seeing something new and hoping to find out what’s really happening in a country,” says Michael. “Nigeria has a population of nearly 220 million, it’s the most prosperous country in Africa and Lagos is going to be the biggest city in the world by 2098. All these things give it tremendous clout, and yet 60 percent of Nigerians live in poverty.”
Here’s everything you need about the Channel 5 series Michael Palin in Nigeria…
Michael Palin in Nigeria release date
Michael Palin In Nigeria is a three-part series that premieres on Channel 5 on Tuesday, April 16 at 9pm with episodes running the same time each week. The series will also become available on streaming service My5.
Michael Palin in Nigeria destinations and what happens
Michael Palin is exploring Nigeria, a West African country he says ‘doesn’t get the attention it deserves’. Starting in the Lagos, he'll travelling by bus and boat, as he heads to the south, taking in everything from slums to royal palaces along the way. He sees the horrific reminders of the impact slavery had on the country and meets a victim of the atrocious events of 2014, where 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram. He also learns about the after-effects of British colonialism and discovers how oil is polluting Nigeria’s rivers.
Michael Palin In Nigeria episode guide
Here's our brief guide to all three episodes of Michael Palin in Nigeria...
Episode 1: Tuesday April 16
After landing at Lagos International Airport, Palin is immediately thrown into the crowded chaos of the biggest city in Africa. There he visits the vast slum of Makoko as well as the luxury bars of Lekki in the city’s southeast. Later in the episode, he takes strong security measures to travel 500 miles north to the city of Kano, home to terrorist group Boko Haram, where he’s invited to meet revered Islamic leader, the Emir of Kano, at his royal palace.
Episodes 2 and 3
We'll update as the series progresses so do check back.
Michael Palin in Nigeria interview
What were your first impressions of Nigeria?
Michael Palin says: "We arrived in Lagos which felt chaotic, noisy and a bit overwhelming. Everyone is larger than life. I quickly learnt that Nigerians are very open and will talk about anything, they’ll smile, shout and yell at you, and within 30 seconds be your best mate."
You were a guest of honour at a special festival – can you tell us more about that?
"That was in Kano, which for many hundreds of years was an emirate (a country ruled by an Emir). We were invited to go to the Emir's palace. He laid on a festival called a Durbar, with horsemen, dancers and hundreds of people dressed in wonderful, colourful outfits."
Did you get to sample any interesting food during your travels?
"Jollof rice and beans is the staple diet, but I also tried snails which were the size of steaks. I mentioned this to David Attenborough, who I see every now and then. He asked me what they tasted like. I told him they don't really taste of anything!"
Where else did your journey take you?
"I also visited the coastal town of Badagry and the beach known as ‘The Point of No Return’ which was once a slave port. Sanding on those shores and picturing the thousands of men and women taken from their homes and sent across the Atlantic in appalling conditions made me feel very uncomfortable."
What did you take away from your experience of the country?
"That it’s a place with enormous human energy that’s not being channelled in the right direction. Nearly everyone we spoke to talked about the problem with corruption – the government gets huge finances from their booming oil industry, but that money isn’t used to look after the people, the infrastructure or to get the country going."
On a personal note, you’ve recently faced the loss of your wife, Helen. Did you hesitate before signing up to film another documentary?
"I was actually very glad to go because since Helen died it's a bit like living life in a vacuum if you’re not careful. We had 57 years together. I feel I’ve got to keep on working and that Helen would want me to."
Is there a trailer?
No, not at the moment. But if Channel 5 release one, we’ll post it on here for you to enjoy.
All about Michael Palin
Michael Palin started his career as one of the members of the Monty Python comedy group, alongside John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Graham Chapman. They had huge success with their TV series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which ran from 1969 to 1974, and the films Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He has also starred in Time Bandits, The Secret Policeman’s Ball, A Fish Called Wanda, Staged, Vanity Fair and Worzel Gummidge. Alongside his acting career, Michael has made numerous travel series, including Michael Palin: Into Iraq, Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime, North Korea: Michael Palin’s Journey and Brazil with Michael Palin.
