Now Python's Palin wins top travel award

Sheffield-born Michael Palin was last night rewarded for his “outstanding contribution” to his latter vocation and said it was a “great honour”.

Formerly a Monty Python star, Palin’s work as a keen explorer, including his book and television series Around The World In 80 Days, launched him to the high table of British adventurers.

Since the book’s first release in 1989, his successes include Pole To Pole (1992), Full Circle (1997), New Europe (2007) and his BBC documentary series Himalaya and Brazil.

Palin, 73, was presented with the lifetime prize by TV adventurer and photographer Levison Wood at the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards in London’s Olympia last night.

“To be given an outstanding contribution award for travel writing is a great honour,” he said.

“To be presented with it by an outstanding writer and adventurer like Levison Wood is the icing on the cake.”

Other award-winners included Lauren Williams for her blog 
The Enjoyable Rut, while Tessa Kiros’s Provence to Pondicherry: Recipes From France And Faraway was named best food and travel book.

All winners were presented with an antique globe trophy.