TV star Michael Palin is at the forefront of the Geography Action Plan a campaign to highlight the importance of studying geography in primary and secondary schools.

Schools minister Andrew Adonis announced details of the plan last week which will see the Government donate an extra £2m to improve the teaching of the subject.

Palin was chosen to front the campaign following the popularity of his travel programmes such as Pole to Pole, Around the World in 80 Days and Himalaya.

The changes follow an Ofsted report which found geography was the worst-taught subject in primary schools.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) also warned the subject is in a vicious circle of decline' in secondary schools.

Figures from the QCA show GCSE entries in the subject have dropped by a third since 1996, when the subject stopped being compulsory for those over 14.

As part of the action plan, Rita Gardner, director of the Royal Geographical Society and David Lambert, chief executive of the Geographical Association have been appointed as advisers to Secretary of State for Education, Ruth Kelly.

Ms Gardner said: "Geography is the only subject which gets to grips with issues like climate change, rises in the sea levels and vital national and global issues."

She also stated one reason for its decline was the geography curriculum had not been updated since the national curriculum was introduced in the 1980s.

To update the subject a Geography Ambassadors Scheme is planned, bringing geographers from businesses and universities into the classroom to show how relevant geography is today and a national website for geography teachers is being created for ICT-based teaching.

Secondary schools are to be sent a copy of Palin's Himalaya with details of the action plan.

Michael Palin said: "I can't imagine a subject which is more relevant in schools.

"If we don't understand geography, we can't understand the past, present or future of our planet."

Colin Cattanach, a secondary school geography teacher, said: "There is a strong case for restoring geography in its many facets as a compulsory subject in the 14-19 curriculum.

"I expect Michael Palin will have hundreds of invitations to schools in the near future."