About

Sir Michael Palin’s travels have seen him venture to all corners of the world, and his latest journey took him to Iraq. In 2022, he travelled the length of the River Tigris to get a sense of what life is like in a region of the world that once formed the cradle of civilisation, but in recent times has witnessed bloodshed and destruction.

His 1,000-mile odyssey, captured with characteristic warmth, humour and grace in his new book, Into Iraq, was one of sharp, sometimes brutal, contrasts – one minute he was exploring the old streets of Baghdad and the next he was in the war-torn city of Mosul.

Michael first rose to fame as a member of the legendary Monty Python team and has gone on to establish himself as a hugely popular actor, writer and television presenter. 

We are delighted to welcome this much-loved polymath to the festival. He will talk to television presenter Anita Rani, about his fascination with travel and his portrait of a complex country few outsiders now get to see.