Michael Palin hates cooking shows and has admitted that because of that, he is "not interested" in BBC One series The Great British Bake Off.

Michael Palin

Michael Palin

The 'Monty Python' star can't understand why the rest of the country is so enamoured with the baking contest - judged by Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood - because he finds it dull.

He said: "What makes me turn off? Cooking shows - 'The Great British Bake Off', I'm not interested. I realise there's something weird about that because the rest of the country is but I switch off 'Bake Off'. Well, I don't switch it off because I don't even switch it on!"

Palin has enjoyed a TV and film career that has spanned five decades and as well as his acting and comedy work with the Python troupe he is renowned for his travel documentaries.

Although he is now in his 70s, he has no plans to retire and will continue to work as long as he doesn't lose his teeth.

Speaking during a BAFTA hosted Q&A with Palin at the Princess Anne Theatre in London - hosted by David Walliams - he explained: "I want to keep my teeth and be able to walk. At this stage in your life you start to think a lot more about the physical side of things really, confronting one's self in the mirror every morning is quite a trial. I don't know whether to just give up - but I'm not. So it's keeping going on TV, that's what I'm going to try and do for the next 10 years."

Palin, 71, will reunite with the rest of the Monty Python members for the first time since their live shows last year on April 24 at a screening in New York to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their film 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' at the Tribeca Film Festival.

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