Actor Michael Palin is sending his travel book Himalaya to every high school in the UK in a bid to make children enthusiastic about geography. The 62-year-old former Monty Python star is horrified by falling interest in the traditional subject and has agreed to ambassador a plan to revive interest among 11 to 18-year-olds. Schools minister Andrew Adonis says, "I can't imagine a more relevant subject. We'd all be lost without it. Geography matters to all. It is the gateway to understanding the rich variety of landscapes and cultures around the world. Our investment will give teachers support... to make geography teaching more inspirational and relevant. We want pupils to enjoy geography and to develop their analytical skills by exploring the world around them." Himalaya follows Palin's six-month trip across the 1,550 mile Asian mountain range, and was also filmed and made into a TV miniseries.