Sir is set to visit Iraq in a new Channel 5 documentary series, which will come as a follow-up to his 2018 Bafta-nominated programme where he visited North Korea.
The three-part series, titled Michael Palin: Into Iraq, will see the star embark on a 1,000 mile journey, following the course of the Tigris river from its source in eastern Turkey to the Persian Gulf.
The into the country, nearly 20 years on from the Iraq war.
The majority of Sir Michael’s journey will be through Iraq, where he will visit Mosul and Erbil, before following the river to Tikrit, and then continuing his journey into the capital Baghdad, exploring the city and the Green Zone.
Speaking about his upcoming adventure, he said: ‘I’ve never visited Iraq and it’s not the easiest country to work in, which is why we chose it as the focus for this series.
‘Scarred by conflict, Iraq is also the birthplace of civilisation.
‘Our story is one of survival, of a nation pulled back from the brink.
‘We wanted to show how a country so long associated with war and violence is dealing with a fragile peace.’
As he heads further south, Sir Michael will see the historic sites of Babylon and Ur before completing his journey on the coast of Iraq.
During his travels, he will meet the people of Iraq and experience what life is like for the 40 million who live there today.
He added: ‘The journey was an eye-opener, a succession of new experiences, new places and new people to meet, a fascinating adventure in a land where past, present and future are unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be back on the road.’
The actor, who has , has previously presented a range of travel documentaries which have taken him across the globe, to remote locations including the North and South Poles, the Sahara Desert and the Himalayas.
On his way, he’s encountered numerous experiences, including .
The former comedian was awarded a knighthood for his services to travel, culture and geography over the years and was recently seen joining forces with
Michael Palin: Into Iraq will air on Channel 5 later this year.
