Michael Palin has shared an update on his health one month after a fall left him with three fractured ribs and a minor pelvic fracture. The 83-year-old Monty Python star took to Instagram on Monday (November 9) to post a photo of himself walking with a Zimmer frame.
Palin's Instagram Update
In the caption, Palin wrote: "Sunday, November 8, 2026 - What Goes Around Comes Around. It's now exactly a month since I thudded to my bathroom floor – returning from a pee at 3.30 in the morning."
He continued: "I still can't walk without a Zimmer. The laughs are all on me. Zimmers were used in Monty Python when we wanted to play slow-moving elderly people. Now I'm an elderly person for real, having to move very slowly as I have three broken ribs and a cracked pelvis. Bones take time to heal, and I'm probably doomed to play this particular Python character for a few weeks more."
Tour Cancellation and Recovery
Palin noted he was "feeling sore, not just because I'll never be able to achieve my dream of being the oldest Olympic hurdler, but because I was never able to finish my Philippines tour and had to disappoint so many who'd bought tickets."
He added: "I promise not to go to the bathroom ever again, and I shall try to find some other show dates next year. For now, I have a stack of books to read and all the time in the world to catch up with Slow Horses and the absolutely compulsive This City Is Ours. And, if things get really low, the Fish Slapping Dance. Thank you all for your patience. Here's to the next time."
Fan Reactions and Background
Shortly after posting, the 83-year-old received an outpouring of messages. One fan replied: "Get well soon, and always look on the bright side of life." A second wrote: "Even in the midst of recovery, you write with unrivalled humour, grace and warmth, Sir Palin. Wishing you the speediest recovery." A third commented: "Please take care of yourself. You are a treasure."
Palin was due to appear in the Philippines as part of his book tour last month but was forced to cancel his event in October. Addressing fans on social media, the actor and writer explained that he had slipped in the bathroom of his home, resulting in a number of fractures. "It was a comedy fall with no one there to see it," he joked, before thanking the NHS for their "incredible care".
