Sir Michael Palin has expressed his concerns about the BBC 's increasing desire to "wanted to interfere a little more" and "control" his programmes, prompting his move to Channel 5 . The veteran broadcaster, aged 81, admitted he would have been "desperately frustrated" had he remained with the BBC , due to their proposed "new way" of presenting shows. Palin, who created a series of acclaimed travel documentaries for the BBC from 1989 until 2012, including hits like Brazil With Michael Palin, Around The World In 20 Years, and Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure, has since taken his talents to Channel 5.
His latest travelogues, which have taken viewers to North Korea, Nigeria, and Iraq, have all aired on the rival channel. In an interview with Radio Times, Sir Michael disclosed: "There was the feeling that the BBC wanted to interfere a little more, they wanted to control it a little more." He also criticised the BBC 's approach to hooking viewers by revealing the most exciting moments within the first five minutes of a show, a method he found particularly frustrating: "And they had this new way of presenting shows which I would get absolutely, desperately frustrated with where they would show, in the first five minutes, all the great moments of what was to come.
Because this captured viewers." He added that the corporation's fear of losing viewers at the sight of him was driving its editorial decisions: "Otherwise, as soon as they see Michael Palin, they'll switch off. The BBC .