Monty Python Star Michael Palin Held at Gunpoint, Released After Sketch in Venezuela

Michael Palin, the 82-year-old Monty Python comedian, was held at gunpoint by Venezuela's intelligence service, SEBIN, while filming a new Channel 5 travelogue series. The situation escalated as he and his crew were stopped by increasingly armed officers, culminating in men with rifles, bulletproof vests, and helmets detaining them for several hours. Their belongings were searched thoroughly, passports confiscated, and even Palin's underwear photographed during the ordeal. The guards eventually discovered Palin's fame after Googling his name and watching Monty Python sketches, including the iconic fish slapping dance, which helped lighten the mood and led to their release. Palin remarked that nearly everyone worldwide, even in places like North Korea and Venezuela, finds the sketch amusing. Despite being freed, he suspects the Venezuelan authorities may continue to monitor him following the incident.