Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio 4,28 Dec 2018,28 mins

There Was A Young Fellow Named Palin

Available for over a year

Michael Palin, Britain’s nicest man, is probably Britain’s busiest man too, which might explain why he’s asked James Peak to step in and write him some limericks. Limericks are the simplest of verse forms - only five lines, a bit of rhyming, and half of the first line "There once was a..." is already written for you. It's child’s play you’d think - but writing a really good limerick is not as easy as it sounds. Join Michael and James for a ridiculous half hour that proves, once and for all, that if you want something doing properly you should do it yourself. With thanks to the National Poetry Library at the Southbank Centre. Window Cleaner ….. Harriet Carmichael Limerick Expert ….. Chris McCabe (as himself) Written by Michael Palin and James Peak. Producers: Andre Jacquemin and James Peak A Goldhawk Essential production for BBC Radio 4

Programme Website