PICK OF THE DAY

MICHAEL PALIN IN NORTH KOREA, 9PM, CH5

‘THIS would turn out to be the most revealing journey of my life.’ In something of a coup, Channel 5 has managed not only to secure the services of Michael Palin for this new, two-part series — some two years in the making — but also to gain unprecedented access to the most secretive country in the world, which has been cut off from the outside world for 70 years. Although filming under strict supervision during his epic, 1,300-mile journey, Michael uses his considerable charm to coax rather more from his guides than they wanted to give to provide a surprising portrait of this strange ‘Hermit Kingdom’.