Beloved actor and travel presenter Sir Michael Palin has spoken candidly about the devastating loss of his wife Helen, who passed away last year after 57 years of marriage.
The Monty Python legend, 80, revealed his wife's final moments were "very peaceful" as she succumbed to kidney failure at London's Royal Free Hospital in May 2023.
A Love Story Spanning Six Decades
The couple first met as teenagers at school in Sheffield and married in 1966. "She was the bedrock of my life," Palin emotionally shared, describing how Helen supported him through his rise to fame with Monty Python and subsequent career as a globe-trotting documentary maker.
Final Moments Together
Palin recalled being by Helen's bedside during her last days: "She wasn't in pain. She just slipped away very gently." The star admitted the grieving process has been challenging, saying "there's a huge gap in my life" without his lifelong partner.
Life After Loss
Now living alone in their north London home, Palin has thrown himself into work, recently completing a new travel series. "Work helps," he acknowledged, though admitted evenings are particularly difficult without Helen's presence.
The couple are survived by their three children and four grandchildren, who Palin says have been a tremendous support during this painful time.
