This remains the definitive Michael Palin travel documentary and probably the best series of its type at least until the Long Way Round. [Note: I don’t think I ever finished The Long Way Round.] Palin seems more honest and human here than he does in later series; less like a host and more like a traveler. It’s an incredible journey that is not without its problems; he takes some pretty incredible risks by the end. And his reflections are, though hardly philosophical, at least thought-provoking and universal. Watching this, I feel like Palin is the Paul Theroux of TV. (Well, with a much better sense of humour.)

One of Palin's best trips as he uses good time to get under the skin of the culture that lives around the Artic Circles. It also give a nice historic document to the last death trembles of the old Soviet Union and before Zimbabwe became a hell on earth. Added bonus seeing drunk Norwegians making idiots of themselves singing a soccer song for the whole world to laugh at.