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Sir Michael Parkinson’s family release statement as tributes pour in
His family have issued a statement
British broadcasting legend Sir Michael Parkinson has died at the age of 88, his family have confirmed.
With a TV career spanning seven decades, ‘Parky’ interviewed the world’s biggest stars on his well-loved show Parkinson.
A statement from Sir Michael’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 request that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”
Parkinson began his show on the BBC back in 1971 where he had US jazz singer Marion Montgomery join him as his first guest.
The programme grew in popularity and saw him interview numerous high-profile guests including the likes of Sir Billy Connelly, Dame Helen Mirren, David Bowie, Goldie Hawn, Kirk Douglas and Muhammad Ali.
The show originally ran for 11 years but came back in 1998 for another long run. It is estimated Parkinson interviewed around 2,000 guests on his show – where he used a journalistic style combined with being welcoming, friendly and kind.
Out of the many guests he interviewed over the years, Parkinson said his favourite was professional boxer Muhammad Ali.
Born in 1935 in Cudworth, a village in South Yorkshire, Parkinson was the son of a miner who instilled in him a shared passion for cricket.
As a teenager, he went on to achieve two O-Levels and got a job on a local newspaper collecting and publishing the sports results.
After spending two years in the army (as many young men were required to as part of National Service), Parkinson joined the Manchester Guardian as a journalist and then moved to London to join the Daily Express.
He transitioned from print to broadcast for both Granada and the BBC before he was given his self-named show on BBC One. Sir Michael Parkinson was made a CBE in 2000 and knighted in 2008.
Tributes to the great man have been pouring in, with Eddie Izzard writing: “Very sad to hear that Michael Parkinson has left us. He was the king of the intelligent interview”.
BBC director-general Tim Davie said in a statement: “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.”
He continued: “Michael was truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed.”
Lord Alan Sugar added: “Very sad news on the passing of Michael Parkinson. End of a [sic] era RIP.”