Renowned British broadcaster Michael Parkinson dies, aged 88 - 9News

Sir Michael Parkinson, the renowned British broadcaster, journalist and author most famous for his interview program, has died aged 88.

A statement was released by Parkinson's family confirming his death.

"After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family," the statement says.

British talk show host Michael Parkinson. (Sean Davey)

"The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve."

Born in Yorkshire, the son of a miner, Parkinson started his career just out of school in newspapers before moving into television in the 1960s.

He was best known for his eponymous chat show, which first aired on the BBC in 1971.

The first run of the show lasted 11 years, before it returned in 1998. Its final episode aired in 2007, and included appearances from Sir David Attenborough, Sir Michael Caine, Australian actor and comedian Barry Humphries, Dame Judi Dench and David Beckham.

Over the show's four decades on air, Parkinson built a reputation as one of television's great interviewers, highlighted by iconic episodes with the likes of John Lennon, Billy Connolly, and Muhammad Ali. 

Michael Parkinson and his wife Mary in 1981. (Fairfax Archive)

The legendary boxer was arguably Parkinson's most memorable sparring partner – and described by the host as his favourite guest. He was interviewed four times on the show in the space of a decade.

He also welcomed plenty of Australian guests onto the show, including – perhaps unsurprisingly given his love of cricket – Shane Warne shortly after the star's Test retirement, and Kerry Packer after the formation of World Series Cricket.

Indeed, the broadcaster had close ties to Australia, a country he described as his second home when he became the first non-Australian to give an Australia Day keynote address in 2011.

Michael Parkinson had close ties to Australia, a country he described as his second home. (Patrick Cummins)

In a 2009 interview with A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw, Parkinson said he easily settled into the country.

"What I liked about Australia was I never had to think 'do I like it or not'," he said.

"From the very moment I arrived here, I enjoyed it."

In the '70s and '80s, he hosted an Australian version of his chat show, Parkinson in Australia, that ran parallel to the British series, and included interviews with Bob Hawke, Bert Newton and John Farnham. 

Michael Parkinson, on his most memorable interview: "When I first started, I had to interview a politician who fell asleep during my intro. So my director hit on the bright idea that if I talked at him for another five minutes he may wake up, but in the end the studio lights did the trick." (Fairfax Archive)

Later in his life, he admitted that being in the spotlight took a heavy toll on him. In an interview, he said he took to drinking after the death of his father, although stopped short of becoming an alcoholic after seeking health advice.

In 2013 he revealed he had been diagnosed with and was receiving treatment for prostate cancer, which he was given the all-clear from two years later.

Parkinson was knighted in 2008, eight years after he was made a CBE.

BBC Director General Tim Davie described Parkinson as "the king of the chat show".

"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."

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2023-08-17 09:50:29Z
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