Michael Palin plays it cool with border guards

British funnyman Michael Palin refuses to joke with airport security officers as he fears he will end up in a jail cell for trying to lighten the mood. The Monty Python star has made a career of travelling the world to film documentaries since leaving the comedy troupe in 1974, and he often charms foreign officials with his funny routines.
However, the writer and presenter is terrified of upsetting strict border guards with a joke and warns his fans to be very careful at airports.
He tells Chortle.co.uk, “I never, ever, use humour with border guards. That’s absolutely fatal. Anyone in uniform, anywhere, don’t try jokes with them… Otherwise I’m not adverse to doing a silly walk every now and then. People like physical humour and a bit of slapstick works everywhere.”