Season 1
Michael Palin's New Europe is a travel documentary television series produced by Prominent Television and presented by Michael Palin Palin, which documents his visit to 20 countries in Eastern Europe that were once off-limits behind the Iron Curtain.
The series originally premiered in the UK on BBC One on 16 September, 2007. There are seven 60-minute episodes in the series (including commercials).
Michael Palin's New Europe premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Knowledge channel on Friday 5 September 2008, at 21h30.
Repeats
Saturdays: 12h00, 22h00
Mondays: 09h00, 14h30
Synopsis
Having already travelled the four corners of the Earth in Full Circle, Sahara and Himalaya, and navigated his way from Pole to Pole and Around the World in 80 Days, intrepid adventurer Michael Palin explores a Europe reborn; 20 countries across Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe full of unexpected and forgotten delights.
Many of these nations are undergoing exciting changes, and have recently joined, or are about to join, the European Union. Although much closer to Michael’s home in the UK, many of these places are as engaging and mysterious as anywhere further afield he has travelled to in the past.
By road, rail, river, sailboat and donkey through some of Eastern Europe’s most mouth-watering locations, from Albania in the South to Latvia in the North, Michael meets new Europe’s movers and shakers.
The series reflects optimism about the new Europe, looking closely at the way people live their lives and investigates the beauty of the remote, unspoilt parts of the continent.