# Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days (1989)

> Michael Palin circles the globe overland in an attempt to match the fictional Phileas Fogg's 80-day journey without flying.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/808

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 7
- Episode runtime: 50 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary
- Network: BBC One
- Cast: Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Alan Whicker, Max Votolato, Nour El-Sherif, Don Bannerman, Jim McGrath, Basil Pao
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096536/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: wry, warm, wistful, breezy, gently humorous

## Synopsis

Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days (1989) is a British television travel documentary miniseries broadcast on BBC One. Presenter Michael Palin (Michael Palin) attempts to copy the exploits of Jules Verne's fictional adventurer Phileas Fogg by circling the globe overland and without flying, aiming to complete the trip in eighty days. Across seven episodes of roughly fifty minutes each, the journey moves through varied countries, and each episode is built from the practical details of the trip: transport changes, border crossings, local hosts and the small frustrations and delights of unfamiliar places. Palin's affable, self-deprecating presence is the engine of the series, and his curiosity about everyday life gives the viewing a warm, wistful and gently humorous register. Its atmosphere is that of an ambitious, low-tech odyssey rather than a polished spectacle. Fans of Michael Palin: Pole to Pole, Long Way Round and the travel storytelling of Anthony Bourdain will find resonance in its blend of personal charm, cultural observation and open-road adventure.

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