Month: May 2018

• Channel 5 commissions landmark travel series Michael Palin in North Korea (w/t) from ITN Productions
• The programme marks Michael Palin’s first series for Channel 5

Earlier this month, Michael Palin returned from North Korea, where he has been filming a world exclusive documentary series, with unprecedented access, for Channel 5.

The historic meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In generated front page headlines across the globe making it a unique time to visit the ‘Hermit Kingdom’. As news filtered through the country Michael and the crew captured these historic days with the ordinary people of this secretive and little understood country. Michael 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 extraordinary annual May Day celebrations.

At a critical time in North Korea’s history, Michael’s travels in the country will showcase life for many of the millions of North Korean subjects who live, work and have families in the DPRK. He covered more than 1,300 miles from south to north of the country, from discovering everyday life for the population in the capital Pyongyang to exploring the snowy peaks of Mount Paektu. Michael also celebrated his own 75th birthday whilst in the country.

After two years of planning and following after a series of complex high level negotiations, granting unprecedented access, Michael and his team were able to experience North Korea in a way that few Westerners have ever been able to previously, with his historic journey captured on film. This is the country and its people as never seen before.

Michael 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 of 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.”

• Vote for your favourite Channel 5 shows to win a TVChoice Award

The nominations for this year’s TVChoice Awards are in, and we’re thrilled to reveal that they include a number of Channel 5 shows.

Fresh from her win at the BAFTAs, Jane McDonald scoops nominations for both Cruising With Jane McDonald (Best Lifestyle Show) and Jane McDonald & Friends.

Neighbours and Home and Away will battle it out for Best Soap,  while Ben Fogle (New Lives In The Wild), Eamonn and Ruth (Do The Right Thing) and Alex Polizzi (The Hotel Inspector) will go head to head in the Best Lifestyle Show category.

Other Channel 5 nominees include The X-Files (Best Drama Series), Blind Date (Best Entertainment Show), Will & Grace (Best Comedy) and Rich House, Poor House (Best Factual Show).

To vote for your favourite Channel 5 shows, head to www.tvchoicemagazine.co.uk. Voting closes on Friday 1st June and you can see the full list of Channel 5 nominees below:

Will & Grace (Best Comedy)

Cruising With Jane McDonald (Best Lifestyle Show)

Ben Fogle: New Lives In the Wild (Best Lifestyle Show)

Do The Right Thing With Eamonn And Ruth (Best Lifestyle Show)

The Hotel Inspector (Best Lifestyle Show)

Big Brother/Celebrity Big Brother (Best Reality Show)

Celebrity 5 Go Motorhoming/Celebrity 5 Go Barging (Best Reality Show)

Blind Date (Best Entertainment Show)

Jane McDonald & Friends (Best Entertainment Show)

The Dog Rescuers With Alan Davies (Best Factual Show)

Neighbours (Best Soap)

Home and Away (Best Soap)

The X-Files (Best Drama Series)

Rich House, Poor House (Best Factual Show)

The Wright Stuff (Best Daytime Show)

Borderline (Best Comedy Show)