ITN Productions travels to the Philippines with Michael Palin for UK’s 5

Michael Palin in the Philippines is the presenter’s fifth series with ITN Productions

Paramount-owned 5 in the UK has teamed up again with ITN Productions for Michael Palin in the Philippines, its fifth travel series with the Monty Python star.

The 3×60′ series follows the success of 5 and ITN Productions’ travelogues with Palin to Iraq, North Korea, Nigeria and, most recently, Venezuela.

The latest series sees the actor, comedian and broadcaster journey the archipelagic South-east Asian country, encountering its people, cultures and controversies.

It was commissioned by Guy Davies, consultant editor for commissioning at 5, who said: “Michael’s new series for 5 is challenging, insightful and visually stunning. I still can’t believe he’s on his fifth consecutive journey for us, and he’s as energetic, funny and warm-hearted as ever.”

The executive producer at ITN Productions is Jeremy Daldry. The series producer and director for ITN is Neil Ferguson, who added: “This was the most ambitious shoot we’ve ever done with Michael and the Philippines exceeded all our expectations.

“It’s a country of stunning contrasts and we often experienced paradise one day, followed by something much darker the next. And whether it was political protest marches, military flights to remote islands, sleeping on the deck of overnight ferries or swimming with thousands of sardines, Michael took it all in his ridiculously nimble stride. It’s a real adventure.”