Green group backs Palin on travel

Michael Palin's last series Himalaya was one of his most ambitious

Environmental group Transport 2000 has denied reports that globe-trotting presenter Michael Palin is facing calls to step down as president.

The Times reported senior members of the group thought Palin's travelling set a bad example and he should go.

"It is nonsense on stilts and seemingly the work of a desperate journalist..," said Transport 2000 director Stephen Joseph.

Palin has made six TV travel shows, including Around the World in 80 days.

"Michael Palin brings popular appeal, wisdom and a sense of proportion to the transport problems we as a society face today," said Mr Joseph.

"Criticisms of the travelling he does as part of his job miss the point. After all, you can't make a travel series in a London studio unless you want it to turn out as an Ealing comedy.

"The real issue is that the issue of the environmental damage being done by aviation is something we must all address and Michael does brilliant work to bring this to people's attention.

"He has always rightly focused on the need for solutions to transport problems and flying is no exception. "

'Fantastic'

Mr Joseph said the Times' claim that Transport 2000 had grown "increasingly embarrassed" at Palin's attempts to defend his travelling was untrue.

He also said that Dr Mayer Hillman, quoted as criticising Palin, was not a "founder member of Transport 2000" as claimed.

Transport 2000 represents the key transport interests of around 40 environmental groups, transport organisations and transport unions.

It encourages a reduction in the use of cars, lorries and planes and more use of rail, buses, trams, cycling and walking.

Palin has been president of Transport 2000 for nearly 15 years and spokesman Steve Hounsham said his group very much wanted him to stay.

"He (Michael Palin) performs a fantastic role in putting a human face onto transport issues and problems," said Mr Hounsham.

Palin's televised travels began in 1987 when he was one of several presenters to front Great Railway Journeys of the World.

A year later he recreated the global trip undertaken by Jules Verne's hero Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days.

That was followed by Pole to Pole, a trip around the Pacific in Full Circle, Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure, Sahara and Himalaya.

In the past 17 years he has travelled 100,000 miles and visited more than 80 countries.

His adventures travels have seen him washing elephants in India, eating maggots and having an audience with the Dalai Lama, who greeted him with the words: "I know you, I've seen you on television."