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The first episode of Around the World in 80 Days was broadcast on 11 October 1989. Michael Palin followed in the footsteps of the fictional Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne's novel. The frustrations, delays and joys of the 79 day journey became an entertaining 7 part series that was a celebration of travel itself and kick-started a whole new phase of Palin’s career.

Palin set out from London on the Orient Express, waved off by his family and Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. He travelled by land or sea but not by air, to keep to the spirit of the original, though he did once venture into a balloon. Palin acknowledged that he was not travelling alone, but attended by a 大象传媒 production crew of five, including director Roger Mills. He dubbed them Passepartout, after Fogg's manservant.

The success of Around the World in 80 Days extended to a best-selling book and DVD of the series. Palin went on to make a whole series of travel documentaries, including Pole to Pole, Full Circle with Michael Palin, Sahara with Michael Palin, Himalaya with Michael Palin and Michael Palin's New Europe. In 2008 he made 20 Years On, in which he revisited Dubai and India to track down the crew of the dhow Al Shama with whom he sailed 20 years previously.