Michael Palin has heartbreakingly admitted that his late wife Helen Gibbins’ clothes are still hanging “in the closet” as it makes him feel as though she is “still here”.
The 81-year-old Monty Python star announced that Helen had sadly passed away following a battle with chronic pain and kidney failure on May 2 last year, just weeks after celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary.
He described her as “the cornerstone of my life” and said her death was an “indescribable loss” for him and his three children: Thomas, 55, William, 53, and Rachel, 49.
And now, more than a year after her painful loss, Michael said he enjoys seeing her belongings around his home as it reminds him of the time they spent together – and the star added that it’s the reason he will never move out.
Speaking in an interview with The timesMichael said of the possibility of moving: ‘I don’t feel that way, at least not yet. Everything around me has a story or something that reminds me of the time we spent together, not in a sentimental way. They are just the elements of your life. If I got rid of all those elements, I would be in another play, playing a different character. And I don’t want to do that.
Michael Palin has heartbreakingly admitted that his late wife Helen Gibbins’ clothes are still hanging “in the closet” because it makes him feel like she’s “still here”.
The Monty Python star, 81, announced that Helen had sadly passed away after a battle with chronic pain and kidney failure on May 2 last year, just weeks after celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary (pictured in 2015).
‘I know it seems strange, but I carry on as if Helen is still here. Her clothes are still in the closets. I don’t want to change my life, because I feel like she wouldn’t want that either. It’s still a nice house to come back to. I feel her presence here.’
The childhood sweethearts met when they were 16 and married in 1966, celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary weeks before Helen passed away.
Michael and Helen met while they were both on summer holiday in Southwold, Suffolk, where they were staying in neighbouring cottages with their families.
After nearly six decades of marriage to the love of his life, Michael went on to say that he couldn’t imagine starting a relationship with someone new as he was still “heartbroken” over the loss of Helen.
He shared: “I’ve shared my life with someone for so long that it’s impossible for me to think about sharing it in the same way with someone else again. So, in a way, I’m freer.”
The TV personality said he found it “strange” that she wasn’t there, especially when he came home from the theater or dinner and wanted to tell her about his experience.
He added that he misses “the little things” about their relationship and added that he still finds it “very difficult” without her, especially when it comes to cooking.
In the same interview, Michael also spoke about his own mortality, admitting that he’s “not worried” about death since it’s “going to happen soon” anyway.
Michael noted that he has many interests, including his book research, which makes him “forget about mortality.”
Michael said he likes to see his belongings around the house because it reminds him of the time they spent together, and the star added that’s why he will never move out (pictured in 2009).
”I know it seems strange, but I’m moving on as if Helen is still here. Her clothes are still in the closets. I don’t want to change my life, because I feel like she wouldn’t want that either.”
The childhood sweethearts met when they were 16 and married in 1966, celebrating their 57th wedding anniversary weeks before Helen passed away (pictured in 1986).
This comes after Michael heartbreakingly admitted he misses the “peace of mind” his late wife Helen Gibbins gave him during an appearance on Lorraine in April.
In an interview with Lorraine Kelly, Michael said: “It would have been our 58th anniversary. I find myself seeking reassurance that she was very good at telling me what to do and what not to do.
“She knew what I liked and when I was happy with my work, rather than putting me into something I didn’t like, so I miss that.”
The actor continued: “I miss the jokes we used to have together. I mean, it was our 58th anniversary and every anniversary we used to try to do something with increasing disbelief… That humour, I miss it so much.
“I’ve known Helen for 60 years and I haven’t known anyone else for that long. In that time you accumulate so many experiences, so many mutual experiences, that there’s no need to make a big fuss about it.”
This comes after Michael heartbreakingly admitted he misses the “confidence” his late wife Helen Gibbins gave him during an appearance on Lorraine in April.
I miss the jokes we used to make together. I mean, it was our 58th anniversary and every anniversary we would try to do something with increasing disbelief… I miss that humor so much.
Speaking ahead of his new Channel 5 show in Nigeria, Michael Palin explained that he felt he “had to keep working” because Helen would have wanted him to continue.
He continued: “You can’t say, ‘It all stops now, I’m just going to live in the past’; you have to move on. I’m lucky because I get work and I can travel the world and get paid for it, which is fantastic, and I want to keep doing that if I can.”
‘It puts you in touch with human life but also gives you physical and mental energy, which is very important for your morale.
“We would love to go on another trip. I would really go with the group anywhere.”