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Affectionately known simply as Parky, Sir Michael Parkinson was one of the world’s greatest interviewers.
His easy manner, combined with his background as a journalist, has allowed him to produce some of the most memorable sit-down conversations in history.
Among his distinguished guests were Sir Billy Connolly, Muhammad Ali, Sir Elton John, Dame Helen Mirren and Madonna.
And he also became famous for his no-nonsense responses to fellow stars like Meg Ryan, who seemed like she didn’t want to be there.
Speaking about his famous chat show, Parky once recalled, “I had a great time. What job to have. And they paid me too!
The Parkinson show started in 1971 on the BBC and featured American jazz singer Marion Montgomery as the first guest.
Among his distinguished guests were Sir Billy Connolly, Muhammad Ali (above), Sir Elton John, Dame Helen Mirren and Madonna.
Michael Parkinson interviews actress Meg Ryan in chat that ended in some hostility
It would last 11 years, then return in 1998 for another attempt before moving to ITV, gathering an incredible 2,000 guests.
The harrowing interview with American actress Meg Ryan and the time Parkinson was attacked by Rod Hull’s Emu are probably his most famous moments.
Sleepless in Seattle, Ryan seemed to want to be somewhere else, giving Sir Michael a series of curt answers.
He asked ‘if you were me, what would you do now?’ she replied, “Just conclude?”
Parkinson later called her an “unhappy woman”, while Ryan called him “crazy” and said he spoke to her “like a disapproving father”.
However, in 2021 Sir Michael apologized to Ryan for the infamous interview, telling Radio Times: ‘I wish I hadn’t gotten carried away with Meg Ryan. I would have liked to deal with it with more courtesy.
“I was obviously mad at her and it’s not for me to be mad at the guests.” I came across as a bit pompous and could have done better.
Sir Michael Parkinson called Dame Helen Mirren a ‘sex queen’ in a 1975 interview and asked if her ‘gear’ undermined her credibility
Sir Michael Parkinson with comedian Billy Connolly who was a regular guest on his show
Parkinson often joked that his career would always be remembered for “that bloody bird – Rod Hull’s emu”.
The puppet attacked him on the cat couch and threw him to the ground.
It is a clip that has been repeated regularly over the years and has won an army of new fans thanks to the internet.
Late football legend George Best was also a regular and was first interviewed in 1971 and again in 1973.
Best had just left Manchester United for the first time and he opened up to the pressures of life away from the pitch.
“I don’t go to pubs to go up to people and ask them if they want to fight,” he told Parkinson.
“If I walk into a bar or a club there’s always someone who wants to come up and hit you in the head with a pint pot and then go to work on Monday morning and tell their homies. I had used to put up with it, but if they walk up and threaten you, if you slap them first, they’re not going to tell their buddies they’ve sorted you, are they?
Michael revealed that Yoko was not as approachable as John (pictured) in their 1971 interview, once believed to be lost
Michael said he didn’t like watching his 1975 interview with Helen Mirren (pictured), after she suggested having big boobs might hurt her performance
‘It happens everywhere. I was hit on the head by a 65-year-old woman! I was sitting watching a show, and she walked over and hit me on the head with her purse. I don’t know. Maybe she wasn’t enjoying the show.
Their last interview was in 2001, when Best was diagnosed with severe liver damage and was on a waiting list for a transplant.
He told Parkinson, “Alcoholics Anonymous works for a lot of people and it saves their lives, but it didn’t work for me.”
And in 1981, the encounter with Parkinson’s disease Muhammad Ali saw viewers glued to the screen.
Ali was a far cry from the persona he portrayed in many other chats and was intimidating during the exchange.
Michael Parkinson interviewing the great George Best in 1975. “Best was the greatest player I have ever seen”, writes Parkinson
He stated : “I’m not just a boxer. I can talk all week on millions of topics.
‘You ain’t got enough wisdom to get me stuck on TV
“You are too small mentally to attack me over anything I stand for.”
A notorious interview took place with 30-year-old Helen Mirren in 1975. She wore a low-cut black dress.
Parky asked her if her “gear”, her “physical attributes”, got in the way of her desire to be seen as a “serious actress”.
“You mean my fingers? replied the actress. ‘Come on, spit. Serious actresses can’t have big breasts, is that what you mean?
“Well,” he said, “they could hurt performance.”
Speaking later about the show, he admitted he didn’t like seeing her again.
He said: “I was my most pompous self. By today’s standards, I plead guilty to being sexist.
“We both lost our temper. I don’t like looking back, because I reveal an unattractive side.