Michael Palin was born in Sheffield in 1943. He was a founder member of the Monty Python team and has written and performed in numerous successful films and television series, including The Missionary, Time Bandits, A Private Function, A Fish Called Wanda, American Friends and GBH. In addition to the bestselling Around the World in 80 Days and Pole to Pole, he has written a number of books, notably Ripping Yarns with Terry Jones, and several children's books including The Mirrorstone, Small Harry and the Toothache Pills, Limericks and the Cyril stories. His first stage play, The Weekend, was first performed at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford before transferring to the Strand Theatre in London, 1994, with Richard Wilson in the lead role.