By Rob Harris
London: British broadcaster Michael Parkinson, best known for interviewing some of the world’s biggest stars on his long-running chat show, has died aged 88.
Parkinson was a star of the golden age of chat-show television in the 1970s to 1990s when millions in the UK, and in Australia, would gather to watch his primetime interviews with celebrities and sports stars.
Michael Parkinson has died aged 88.
Affectionately known as “Parky”, he was mainstay on Australian screens, once appearing as himself in Neighbours as well as a famous cameo in cult film Love Actually. He once estimated he had interviewed more than 2000 guests, with the most high-profile including Muhammad Ali, Orson Welles, Lauren Bacall, Fred Astaire, Elton John, John Lennon and Madonna.
Speaking on BBC Radio, veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough said Parkinson was “the best interviewer in the business”.
“You knew that he would do his homework and that he would ask questions that didn’t occur to you,” he said.
“He was extremely generous, he wanted you to shine and would always laugh at your jokes and give you an opportunity to make them sound funnier than in fact they were.”
Parkinson famously went head-to-head with many of Australia’s finest including memorable interviews with then future prime minister Bob Hawke, media mogul Kerry Packer and formed a longtime friendship with the late cricket great Shane Warne.
Australia’s greatest Olympian, Ian Thorpe, chose Parkinson as the interview when he decided to tell the world he was gay in a 2014 television special.
A statement from Parkinson’s family said: “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family requests that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”
Parkinson’s television career spanned more than seven decades during which he became one of Britain’s most celebrated broadcasters. His prime-time chat show Parkinson first aired on the BBC in 1971 and until 1982. It was revived in 1998 and ran until 2007.
Between 1979 and 1983 he also hosted Parkinson in Australia, which he filmed in the ABC’s Gore Hill studios in Sydney.
Born in the South Yorkshire village of Cudworth, near Barnsley in northern England, he left school at the age of 16 with dreams of becoming a professional cricketer before turning to local newspaper journalism. He moved into current affairs television in the late 1960s, before being given Parkinson.
“Michael was the king of the chat show and he defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed,” said BBC Director General Tim Davie.
“He interviewed the biggest stars of the 20th century and did so in a way that enthralled the public. Michael was not only brilliant at asking questions, he was also a wonderful listener.”
On one of his final print interviews last year with The Sydney Morning Herald’s Peter FitzSimons, Parkinson said the only guest he regretted not being able to talk to was Sir Donald Bradman.
Michael Parkinson and Dame Edna Everage.Credit: Publicity
“God knows I tried often enough, only to be gently rebuffed. He was never nasty to me. He really just didn’t want to do it,” Parkinson said.
“He’s the ‘big cat’ that’s missing from my collection.”
Oscar winning actor Sir Michael Caine said Parkinson was “irreplaceable”, “charming” and “always wanted to have a good laugh”.
“He brought the best of everyone he met. Always looked forward to be interviewed by him,” he said.
Sir Elton John said he was “a TV legend who was one of the greats”, and football legend David Beckham wrote: “We say goodbye to the best.” Dame Judi Dench told the BBC Parkinson was “a one-off”.
BBC journalist Nick Robinson said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter: “He was the greatest interviewer of our age who owned Saturday night TV for year after year”.
Actor, writer and TV host Stephen Fry said the genius of Parkinson was that “unlike most people” he was always “100 per cent himself”.
“Loved that man,” Fry posted on Instagram. “Having grown up watching him interview greats, my first appearance was impossibly thrilling for me.”
Parkinson was also known for two uncomfortable interviews with actors Helen Mirren and Meg Ryan. With Mirren, he was accused of sexism after he asked if her “physical attributes” had hindered her career and whether her figure could detract from her performance.
Michael Parkinson interviewing on set in 1981.Credit: Fairfax Media
With Ryan, the two engaged in a frosty, terse interview before Ryan told him to “wrap it up”. Parkinson later said he regretted getting angry with the actress.
In 2013 Parkinson revealed he was receiving radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, but got the all-clear from doctors two years later.
With Reuters
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