Michael Palin returns to TV for BBC One's 'Remember Me'
For someone that has had an asteroid named after them (Asteroid 9621 Michaelpalin), has not one, but two high-speed Virgin trains named after him in honor of his achievements as a traveller, is past President of the Royal Geographical Society and has been ‘unofficially’ referred to over the years as “Britain’s Nicest Man”, Michael Palin still gets excited about a new challenge. For Palin, Remember Me for BBC One will be his first leading dramatic role in over 20 years.
“This is my first lead role in a TV drama series since G.B.H. It’s also a return to Yorkshire, where I was born, brought up and learnt my acting in amateur dramatics, Palin said. “I was attracted to Remember Me not only by the northern setting, but also by a good, strong challenging role, something I could really get what remains of my teeth into… I’ve always loved ghost stories, so playing the lead in one is a very exciting prospect.”
In the forthcoming Remember Me for BBC One, Palin will play Tom Parfitt, a frail, old Yorkshireman seemingly alone in the world, whose admittance to a nursing home triggers a series of inexplicable events. On the day elderly Tom Parfitt leaves his home to move into residential care, he becomes the sole witness to a violent death. His teenage care assistant Hannah and investigating police detective Rob Fairholme, played by Mark Addy (The Full Monty, Trollied, Atlantis), try to unravel the riddle of his mysterious history and are drawn into an eerie and dangerous world of lost love and betrayal. Remember Me will also star Julia Sawalha (Absolutely Fabulous, Lark Rise to Candleford) as Hannah’s troubled mother Jan Ward.
Remember Me will air on BBC One later this year with, hopefully, a transmission on public television in the States not long after.
