On a damp January evening, Charleston’s refurbished Hay Barn was packed to capacity for an intimate conversation between Michael Palin and journalist Samira Ahmed — and it lived up to that promise. Palin proved as charming and incisive as ever, his wit and warmth carried through even when the acoustics dipped. The Hay Barn, with its generous proportions and exposed roof timbers, has helped to establish The Charleston Trust as a superb venue for big-name cultural events. After the main conversation, Ahmed opened the floor to questions, and the audience engaged with a mixture of humour and seriousness, prompting Palin on subjects from comedy writing, and some Monty Python observations, as well as practical behind-the-scenes stories. In all, this was an evening that spoke as much to Palin’s enduring appeal as a cultural figure as to Charleston’s ambition in programming thoughtful, live conversation.