Monty Python - Palin Retires From Hit Travel Shows

Former MONTY PYTHON star MICHAEL PALIN has disappointed fans by refusing to make any more hit TV travel shows - because he fears his 17 years of globe-trotting have prematurely aged him.

The 61-year-old funnyman's televised journeys around more than 80 countries have been credited with inspiring British holiday-makers to book more exotic locations for their breaks.

And although record audiences watched him travel from the Algerian desert to the tribal areas of Pakistan in his six BBC series, Palin insists he's not young and fit enough to add to the 160,000 kilometres (100,000 miles) he's already travelled.

He explains, "I'm too old now for these big series. They can take, with planning, editing and filming, up to two years, or more. I might do the odd one-off programme, but no more series and definitely no more long trips.

"I looked and felt like a young man when I started out. Just look at what these years of travelling have done to me. Crow's feet? It looks like a crow's walked across my face."