Sir Michael Parkinson has been hailed as a “broadcasting giant” who was the “king of the intelligent interview” following his death at the age of 88.
Sir Michael became a familiar face on both the BBC and ITV with his intimate celebrity interviews, most notably on the BBC show Parkinson.
Some of the celebrities he interviewed have paid tribute after his family announced he died “peacefully at home” on Wednesday.
“The genius of Parky was that unlike most people (and most of his guests, me included) he was always 100 per cent himself. On camera and off,” comedian Stephen Fry wrote via Instagram.
“’Authentic’ is the word I suppose. For one of the shows I was on with Robin Williams, a genius of unimaginable comic speed and brilliance. Now they’re both gone. One should get used to the parade of people constantly falling off the edge, but frankly one doesn’t. So long #parky.”
Former cricket umpire Dickie Bird wrote in a statement: “He was so close to me. We were friends since we were youngsters, his father and my father worked down the mines together in Barnsley and we have been friends all of our lives. His friendship meant more to me than anything else. It meant so much to me. Our friendship, if I wanted any advice I would ring Parky up. He helped me in so many, many ways. There will never be a chat show host like Michael Parkinson. He was the best. There will never be anyone better than him in your lifetime, my lifetime or anyone else’s lifetime.”
“He was a Barnsley boy, like myself, and it was an absolute pleasure to know him and his family. We are all devastated here at Yorkshire and thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Sir Michael’s family and friends at this sad time,” Yorkshire Cricket Club managing director of cricket Darren Gough said in a statement.
Comedian and actor Matt Lucas said: “We’ll never forget his brilliant interviews with Muhammad Ali, Dame Edna, Billy Connolly and, of course, ‘that bloody emu’.”
“Michael arrived, chatted away to us, not a nerve in sight, when the band starting playing the theme tune. Michael paused, smiled and said ‘They’re playing my tune’ and walked straight out and started the show. Lovely,” comedian Dara O Briain said via Twitter.
Comedian Eddie Izzard wrote on Twitter: “Very sad to hear that Michael Parkinson has left us. He was the king of the intelligent interview.”
“Michael was the king of the chat show and he defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed. 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. Michael was truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed,” BBC director-general Tim Davie said in a statement.
After premiering in 1971, Parkinson enjoyed a successful run until 1982.
In 1998, the chat show was revived on the BBC and proved an instant hit.
It switched from the BBC to ITV1 in 2004 due to a clash with football highlight show Match Of The Day.
Parkinson ran on ITV until 2007 – the same year Sir Michael retired from his Sunday morning Radio 2 program.
For one of his final episodes, Sir Michael put together a “wish list” of stars to join him.
Sir Michael Caine, Sir David Attenborough, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Edna Everage, Billy Connolly, David Beckham, Peter Kay and Jamie Cullum appeared on the two-hour special broadcast on December 22, 2007.
Jazz star Cullum played the classic track Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone in tribute to the host, who had helped launch his career by featuring him on his show when he was an unknown.
“I did a talk show at the best time, without the constraints of social media that turn many celebrities into people as mysterious as our next-door neighbour,” Sir Michael said in 2021 ahead of Parkinson At 50.