Sir Michael Palin predicts death will be 'sometime soon' as he shares he's 'bereft' over late wife
Sir Michael Palin opened up about death and the loss of his wife
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Monty Python legend Sir Michael Palin, 81, has opened up about his "mortality" as he made a candid statement about death.
The actor and comedian reflected on the loss of his wife Helen Gibbins, who died last year, and went on to state he will likely die "sometime soon".
Palin detailed how he ensures he has things in his life to distract him from mortality as he opened up on his age.
The travel show host reflected: "I'm in my 80s and lots of people don't make it there. So I don’t have any great worries about death. I mean, it's going to happen sometime soon.
"I hear people say Euston station works are going to be finished in 2033 and think, 'Oh, I won’t be around then.'
"But I’ve got so many interests — either books I’m researching or future travel series — which make me forget about mortality."
Michael Palin is best known for being a part of hit comedy troupe Monty Python
PA
Speaking to The Times, he continued by talking about his late wife. The pair got married in 1966, and Palin explained how he loved the "sort of undramatic steadiness" of their relationship.
"It's very odd, not having her here," he stated. "But that's not just about travel. It's about coming back from a night at the theatre or dinner and the first thing I want is to tell Helen, 'That was c**p,' or, 'That was wonderful.'
"I still feel quite bereft, because it’s the little things. The people we knew over such a long period whom I can't talk about now to her. I still find that very difficult. But there we are."
The couple celebrated their wedding anniversary just two-and-a-half weeks before Helen's death in May last year. They share three children and four grandchildren.
Sir Michael Palin opened up about death and the loss of his wife
PA
Palin recently opened up about the emotions that come up whenever comedy troupe Monty Python reunite.
The comedians often end up being “rather tearful” when they gather following the fame they found after forming in 1969.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, he explained how the four surviving members which include himself, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle, all remain close friends.
“We share so much including income, which has to be sort of worked out, and Python is still selling round the world and not in the way it used to,” he explained.
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Michael Palin said he will die 'sometime soon'
PA
“It’s still achieved a success none of us would ever dreamed of (when) writing this very silly, anarchic stuff so yes, we see each other not as often.”
He went on to say he sees Gilliam “often” because they live near each other in London, but sees less of the other Python stars as they’re living further away.
“We’re close when we get together and we talk, there is that thing, you know, it’s like a long affair that took place many years ago and you get together and you’re rather tearful,” he admitted.
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