Palin's travel programme on North Korea the night before last was embarrassing. He spent a great deal of his time in the gilded cage that is Pyongyang (a city closed to most of the population) and thought he was mixing with ordinary people. Although he made some references to the incredible oppression present in the country he was basically a patsy for those who were happy to funnel him to places where it suited the regime to do so. I know it's not possible to easily shake off the yoke in NK but he seemed to imagine that many of his experiences were less than staged.
I don't have a lot of time for a lot of 'lazy' travel presenters (Simon Reeve being one exception) it has to be said.
Palin also seemed to be unaware that he was risking people's safety when he did ask them tricky questions.
No doubt we will eventually see Michael Portillo arriving in Pyonyang by train, taking afternoon tea with Kim Jong-un and then whisking him around the dance floor for a paso doble before discussing his furniture.
Recommended reading regarding North Korea: 'Nothing to Envy' by Barbara Demick.