New Channel 5 Series Follows Michael Palin to North Korea

May 21, 2018 Kristin Brzoznowski

Channel 5 has commissioned the landmark travel series Michael Palin in North Korea (working title) from ITN Productions.

Earlier this month, Palin returned from North Korea, where he has been filming a world exclusive documentary series. Palin visited sites and locations rarely, if ever, explored in his journey across the country, while spending time with citizens from all walks of life and witnessing the country’s annual May Day celebrations.

The production required two years of planning and a series of complex and high-level negotiations in order to secure unprecedented access. The series, due to air later in 2018, is produced by ITN Productions in partnership with director Neil Ferguson from FOMO Films.

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Palin said: “To visit North Korea was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. For somewhere that is so often in the forefront of the news, it remains a complete mystery to most of us. That we were able to travel across the country and get some sense of everyday life was enormously exciting. The visit was an eye-opener for me, and I’m sure it will be the same for others. In all my travels around the world I have never had the same sense of fascination and revelation as on this journey to North Korea.”

Guy Davies, Channel 5’s factual commissioning editor, said: “Michael Palin is the best travel presenter of his generation, and for him to make his first series for Channel 5 with such a timely and extraordinary journey is thrilling. His natural curiosity and sensitivity make him the ideal person to visit and discover North Korea, and meet the people who have been hidden from the world for so long.”

Will Smith, head of factual at ITN Productions, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Michael Palin on this project which has taken two years to come to fruition. Given the constantly shifting political landscape between North Korea and the rest of the world this insight into life for ordinary people in what is often dubbed a ‘hermit kingdom’ could not be more relevant.”