Michael Parkinson

Michael Parkinson was born on 28 March 1935 in the village of Cudworth, in Barnsley. The son of a miner,{{cite news|url=http://www.thebottomlinetv.com.au/interview/sir-michael-parkinson-interview/ |title=Sir Michael Parkinson: Feature Interview – The Bottom Line |publisher=thebottomlinetv.com.au |access-date=13 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310171728/http://www.thebottomlinetv.com.au/interview/sir-michael-parkinson-interview/ |archive-date=10 March 2015 }} he was educated at Barnsley Grammar School after passing the eleven-plus and in 1951 passed two O-Levels: in art and English language. He was a club cricketer and both he and his opening partner at Barnsley Cricket Club, Dickie Bird, had trials for Yorkshire together with Geoffrey Boycott.{{cite book|title=Parky|first=Michael|last=Parkinson|publisher=Hodder & Stoughton|year=2008|isbn=978-0-340-96166-7}} He once kept Boycott out of the Barnsley Cricket Club team by scoring a century and 50 in two successive matches. A young Michael Parkinson World XI played at the Scarborough Festival between 1988 and 1990.{{cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Kathryn |date=17 August 2023 |title=Yorkshire pays tribute to Sir Michael Parkinson |url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/23729461.yorkshire-pays-tribute-sir-michael-parkinson/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Great British Life}}

Parkinson began his career as a journalist on local newspapers straight after leaving school. He worked as a features writer for the Manchester Guardian, working alongside Michael Frayn and later on the Daily Express in London. In the course of his two years' National Service, which began in July 1955, he received a commission as an officer in the Royal Army Pay Corps, becoming the youngest captain in the British Army at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/553503/index.html |title=biography |publisher=Screenonline |access-date=3 June 2012}} He saw active service in Egypt in the Suez Crisis as a British Army press liaison officer.'Parky: My autobiography', by Michael Parkinson (Pub. Hachette UK, 2009).{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/6045808.stm|title=Programmes – Suez: A Very British Crisis|work=BBC News|date=16 October 2006 }}

During the 1960s, Parkinson moved into television, working on current-affairs programmes for the BBC and Manchester-based Granada Television. He was one of the presenters on the five-times-a-week news show Twenty-Four Hours on BBC1 from March 1966{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7077c57e1f2147f6a5839228bda88df4|title=Broadcast – BBC Programme Index|publisher=BBC|date=14 March 1966 }} until January 1968.{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/bb097eec90304b3292dd21dbed862f0a|title=Broadcast – BBC Programme Index|publisher=BBC|date=26 January 1968 }} From 1969 he presented Granada's Cinema, a late-night film review programme, before in July 1971 presenting his BBC series Parkinson, which ran until April 1982 and from January 1998 until December 2007, leaving the BBC for ITV1 midway through the second run, which concluded after 31 series. By his own reckoning, he had interviewed 2,000 of the world's celebrities.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/01/1054406070303.html |title=How to talk to anyone in the world |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2 June 2003 |access-date=3 June 2012}} Parkinson was one of the original "Famous Five" line-up of TV-am's Good Morning, Britain in 1983, with Angela Rippon, Anna Ford, David Frost and Robert Kee.{{cite web |title=TV-am Presenters |url=https://www.tv-am.org.uk/presenters#:~:text=The%20well%20known%20faces%20of%20TV%2Dam&text=The%20Famous%20Five%3A%20Robert%20Kee,am%20on%201st%20February%201983. |website=tv-am.org.uk |access-date=17 August 2023}} Parkinson presented the weekend edition of the programme until February 1984.{{cite news |date=17 August 2023 |title=Sir Michael Parkinson, TV host and broadcaster, dies at 88 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/michael-parkinson-dies-dead-tv-broadcaster-host-mph6r2ww5 |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=The Times}}

He also took over as host of Thames Television's Give Us a Clue from Michael Aspel from 1984, while in 1985, he stood in for Barry Norman as presenter of Film 85.{{cite news |date=17 August 2023 |title=He hated John Wayne, riled Meg Ryan and sparred with Ali: Michael Parkinson defined the British chat show |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/michael-parkinson-tribute-interviews-bbc-b2394798.html |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=The Independent}}

In 1987 and 1988, Parkinson hosted fifteen episodes of Parkinson One to One for Yorkshire Television, a series of interview programmes which continued in the style of his BBC talk show but with each episode dedicated to a single celebrity guest.{{cite web |last=Minelle |first=Bethany |date=17 August 2023 |title=Sir Michael Parkinson: A gentle Yorkshire accent and razor-sharp wit – the host that A-listers wanted to share their secrets with |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-michael-parkinson-a-gentle-yorkshire-accent-and-razor-sharp-wit-the-host-that-a-listers-wanted-to-share-their-secrets-with-12941571 |access-date=17 August 2023 |publisher=Sky News}}

On Halloween 1992, Parkinson appeared as himself in the television drama Ghostwatch as the studio link during a fictional, apparently live, paranormal investigation.{{cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Steve |date=17 August 2023 |title=Ghostwatch: Looking back on the Michael Parkinson drama that 'traumatised' the nation |url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/ghostwatch-michael-parkinson-drama-traumatised-nation-094548007.html |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Yahoo Movies}} However, the cinéma vérité style in which it was shot led to complaints from viewers who believed it depicted real events.{{cite web |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Damon |last2=White |first2=Steven |date=30 October 2022 |title=Banned BBC show 'Ghostwatch' left traumatised viewers in tears and 'unable to sleep for months' |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/banned-bbc-show-ghostwatch-left-25351016# |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Manchester Evening News}} From 1995 to 1999, he hosted the BBC One daytime programme Going for a Song.{{cite web |last=Lawson |first=Mark |date=17 August 2023 |title=An all-time great: how Michael Parkinson changed British television |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/17/michael-parkinson-parky-changed-british-tv |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=The Guardian}} He again appeared as himself in Richard Curtis's 2003 romantic comedy film, Love Actually, interviewing the character Billy Mack, played by Bill Nighy.{{cite news |title=Michael Parkinson tributes as TV host dies aged 88 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/entertainment-arts-66414858?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=64de2f18b569ec25b6b956d8%26%27That%27ll%20never%20make%20number%20one%27%262023-08-17T14%3A38%3A34.215Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:d3f1fb23-2e87-4fa9-b959-b6159707f94c&pinned_post_asset_id=64de2f18b569ec25b6b956d8&pinned_post_type=share |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=BBC News |date=17 August 2023 }} In October 2003, Parkinson had a controversial interview with Meg Ryan while she was in the UK to promote In the Cut, which he called his most difficult television moment.{{cite web|url=http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=598&id=521652006 |title=Parkinson comments on interview |work=The Scotsman |date=5 April 2006 |access-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211163424/http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=598&id=521652006 |archive-date=11 December 2007}}

On 26 June 2007, Parkinson announced his retirement:

After three enjoyable and productive years at ITV, and after 25 years of doing my talk show I have decided that this forthcoming series will be my last. I'm going to take next year off to write my autobiography and consider other television projects. My thanks go out to all those who have worked on the shows down the years and the viewers for their loyal support and occasional kind words.{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/27/broadcasting.uknews | title = After 25 years, Parkinson retires again | last = Pidd | first = Helen | date = 27 June 2007 | newspaper = The Guardian | location = London | access-date =1 September 2010}}

In 2007, Parkinson appeared in the Australian soap Neighbours as himself.{{cite news |last1=Shafer |first1=Ellise |title=Michael Parkinson, Legendary U.K. Talk Show Host, Dies at 88 |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/michael-parkinson-dead-talk-show-host-uk-1235698665/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |work=Variety |date=17 August 2023}} On 24 November 2007, during recording of the final regular edition of his ITV chat show, broadcast on 16 December, Parkinson fought back tears as he was given an ovation.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/2327 |title=What's on TV: Parky brought to tears on final show |publisher=Whatsontv.co.uk |date=24 November 2007 |access-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207083621/http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/news/2327 |archive-date=7 February 2012 }} On 'PARKINSON The Final Conversation' his guests were: Billy Connolly, Sir Michael Caine, David Attenborough, David Beckham, Jamie Cullum, Peter Kay, Dame Judi Dench & Dame Edna Everage. By December 2008 Parkinson held 458 credits as a presenter on his own and with others.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071113084105/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/40822 overview] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20090117013747/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/40822?view=credit filmography] of Parkinson's work at The British Film Institute

Parkinson was a flagship of the BBC's prime-time schedule, attracting top names before the chat show circuit was part of the promotional mill.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3561575/Michael-Parkinson-I-lurch-from-triumph-to-disaster-and-back.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3561575/Michael-Parkinson-I-lurch-from-triumph-to-disaster-and-back.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Michael Parkinson: I lurch from triumph to disaster and back |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date= 3 October 2008|access-date=3 June 2012 |location=London}}{{cbignore}} He was able to interview wartime variety stars while attracting up-and-coming comedians such as Billy Connolly.{{cite web |date=17 August 2023 |title='You're not as dumb as you look': Sir Michael Parkinson's most memorable interviews |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2023-08-17/sir-michael-parkinsons-most-memorable-interviews |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=ITV News}} He was not afraid to allow an interviewee time to be themself, sometimes, as with Fred Astaire, Orson Welles, Alec Guinness, Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, George Michael, Madonna, John Cleese and Mel Gibson, devoting an entire programme to a guest who was considered especially noteworthy.{{cite web |last=Edward |first=Thomas |date=17 August 2023 |title=Michael Parkinson: TV chat show icon's 10 greatest interviews |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/news/entertainment/michael-parkinson-interviews-best/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Smooth Radio}} Parkinson stated that "If I could save one interview from the thousands I have done, it would be the one-man show with Professor Jacob Bronowski."Parkinson, Michael 2010 Parky's People Hodder & Stoughton

He stated that the most remarkable man he ever interviewed was Muhammad Ali,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnz77QSu2HA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019071721/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnz77QSu2HA |archive-date=19 October 2007 |url-status=dead|title=Muhammad Ali – Parkinson's Greatest Entertainers |via=YouTube |date=1 September 2009 |access-date=3 June 2012}} and regretted never interviewing Frank Sinatra or Don Bradman.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/125925.html |title=Oration delivered by Mr Michael Parkinson, CBE | Global |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=3 June 2012}}{{cite news|last=Parkinson |first=Michael |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/3000103/In-search-of-The-Don.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/3000103/In-search-of-The-Don.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=In search of The Don |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 March 2001 |access-date=3 June 2012 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}

Parkinson returned to hosting television in November 2012 with his new show Parkinson: Masterclass on Sky Arts.{{cite web|url=http://skyarts.sky.com/sir-michael-parkinson-joins-sky-arts|title=Sky Arts |publisher=Sky UK}}

Parkinson took over BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs for the 1986 series after the 1985 death of its creator, Roy Plomley, whose widow was unhappy with Parkinson replacing him.{{cite web |last=Mahoney |first=Elisabeth |date=27 January 2012 |title=Desert Island Discs celebrates 70 years of books, music and bizarre luxuries |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jan/27/desert-island-discs-70th-birthday |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=The Guardian}} After six shows, he was criticised by the BBC Board of Management for "a Yorkshire bias in the choice of castaways" despite the fact that only one of his guests was born in the county.{{cite magazine|last=Parkinson |first=Michael |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-01-29/michael-parkinson-on-hosting-desert-island-discs |title=Michael Parkinson on hosting Desert Island Discs |magazine=Radio Times |date=29 January 2012 |access-date=3 June 2012}} Parkinson claimed that the criticism was "a rearguard action by the establishment against the perceived desecration of an institution by an outsider". Parkinson stayed for two years until handing duties over to Sue Lawley.

Between 1994 and 1996 he hosted Parkinson on Sport on BBC Radio 5 Live.{{cite web |last=Kalia |first=Ammar |date=17 August 2023 |title=Michael Parkinson, broadcaster and talkshow host, dies aged 88 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/17/michael-parkinson-broadcaster-and-talkshow-host-dies-aged-88 |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=The Guardian}} Between 1996 and 2007, he presented a morning show on BBC Radio 2 called Parkinson's Sunday Supplement; it featured newspaper and entertainment summaries with the help of journalists and a lengthy interview with a media personality. These were interspersed with music that demonstrated his penchant for jazz and big band. In October 2007, a few months after announcing his retirement from his television series, Parkinson said his radio show would also end.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7053090.stm |title=Parkinson leaves his Radio 2 show |work=BBC News |date=19 October 2007 |access-date=3 June 2012}} The last programme was broadcast on Sunday 2 December 2007. Parkinson presented a mid-morning programme on London's LBC Newstalk 97.3FM.{{cite web |date=17 August 2023 |title=Broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson dies aged 88 |url=https://ontheradio.co.uk/2023/08/broadcaster-sir-michael-parkinson-dies-aged-88/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=On The Radio}} He was considered responsible for the promotion of jazz singers to a more mainstream audience during the run of his BBC radio show.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/sep/30/popandrock |title=The people who control the music you hear, like and buy |newspaper=The Guardian |date= 30 September 2005|access-date=3 June 2012 |location=London |first=Alexis |last=Petridis}}

Parkinson's first article for The Sunday Times Colour Section, "Living in a Museum" (about the Suffolk village of Lavenham), appeared on 8 July 1962.{{cite web |last=Mann |first=Peter |date=17 August 2023 |title=Culture: Just who does Sir Michael Parkinson think he really is? |url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/sudbury/news/culture-just-who-does-sir-michael-parkinson-think-he-really-is-1-8315737/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Suffolk News}} In 1965, The Sunday Times invited him to write a regular sports column, drawing on characters from his days in cricket and football.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michael-parkinson-oh-lucky-man-1929315.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/michael-parkinson-oh-lucky-man-1929315.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Michael Parkinson: Oh lucky man! – Profiles — People |newspaper=The Independent |date=28 March 2010 |access-date=3 June 2012 |location=London}} These Sunday Times pieces and his articles for Punch magazine later formed the basis for two books, Cricket Mad and Football Daft.{{cite book |last=Parkinson |first=Michael |title=Cricket Mad |date=1969 |publisher=Stanley Paul & Co. Ltd |isbn=0-09-908140-7}} In the 1980s, Parkinson wrote a series of children's books called The Woofits about a family of anthropomorphic dog-like creatures in the fictional Yorkshire coal-mining village of Grimeworth. The books led to a TV series, which he narrated.{{cite web |last=Van den Broeke |first=Leigh |date=5 March 2014 |title=Michael Parkinson visits Sydney to celebrate 25 years of support for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/sir-michael-parkinson-visits-sydney-to-celebrate-25-years-of-support-for-the-royal-institute-for-deaf-and-blind-children/news-story/607a7b1bf9e1dbae4889a45419620084 |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=news.com.au}} He wrote a sports column for The Daily Telegraph and was president of the Sports Journalists' Association.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/contact-us/ |title=Sports Journalists' Association |publisher=Sportsjournalists.co.uk |date=8 January 2009 |access-date=3 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519234605/http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/contact-us/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}

His autobiography, Parky, was published on 2 October 2008 by Hodder & Stoughton.{{cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Lauren |date=17 August 2023 |title=Hodder pays tribute to Sir Michael Parkinson, 'a man who made others feel better' |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/hodder-pays-tribute-to-sir-michael-parkinson-a-man-who-made-others-feel-better |access-date=17 August 2023 |magazine=The Bookseller}} In April 2009, Parkinson wrote about the recently deceased Jade Goody in the Radio Times and described her as "barely educated, ignorant and puerile", adding: "When we clear the media smokescreen from around her death, what we're left with is a woman who came to represent all that's paltry and wretched about Britain today."Radio Times, 11–17 April 2009: "Points of View by Michael Parkinson". Bishop Jonathan Blake, who had presided over Goody's wedding, took exception to Parkinson's comments.{{cite web|url=http://news.aol.co.uk/bishop-hits-out-over-goody-outburst/article/20090408015418102065544 |title=AOL News: Bishop hits out over Goody outburst |publisher=News.aol.co.uk |date=8 April 2009|access-date=3 June 2012}}

In 1971, Parkinson was nominated as a candidate for the position of Rector of the University of Dundee. In one of the closest-ever contests for that position, he was very narrowly defeated by incumbent Peter Ustinov after two recounts. The result was controversial, as it was alleged earlier results indicated Parkinson had won and a further recount should have taken place to confirm the result. As a result, pressure grew for the poll to be rerun. While the university decreed that the original result was to stand, a new poll was organised by the Students' Association, which also featured the candidature of a goat. However, this time Ustinov won a decisive victory over Parkinson, the goat and Paul Foot.{{cite web|title=Rectorial Elections |url=http://www.archives-records-artefacts.com/2010/02/rectorial-elections.html |publisher=Archives, Records and Artefacts at the University of Dundee |access-date=8 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326172616/http://www.archives-records-artefacts.com/2010/02/rectorial-elections.html |archive-date=26 March 2012 }}{{cite book|last=Baxter|first=Kenneth|title=A Dundee Celebration|year=2007|publisher=University of Dundee|location=Dundee|page=32|display-authors=etal}}

Parkinson is on the cover of the 1973 Paul McCartney and Wings album Band on the Run.{{cite web |last=Iorizzo |first=Ellie |date=17 August 2023 |title=Sir Michael Parkinson's most memorable interviews |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/michael-parkinson-meg-ryan-tony-blair-paul-mccartney-billy-connolly-b1101240.html |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Evening Standard}} Paul McCartney told Parkinson that he would appear on his show if Parkinson appeared on the album cover, although it was not until 1999 that McCartney fulfilled his promise.{{cite web |date=17 August 2023 |title=Sir Michael Parkinson's most memorable interviews |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/national/23728882.sir-michael-parkinsons-memorable-interviews/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Daily Gazette}}

In 2005, Parkinson appeared with comedian Peter Kay on the music video of the re-released "Is This the Way to Amarillo" for Comic Relief, which became a number one single.{{cite news |last=Sansome |first=Jessica |date=23 April 2020 |title=Who was in the original Peter Kay Amarillo video and who sings it? |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/who-original-peter-kay-amarillo-18127381 |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=Manchester Evening News }}

On 29 September 2008, Parkinson launched his website, which included online interviews. The site also includes a blog, giving Parkinson's views on news events as well as information about his compilation album, Michael Parkinson: My Life in Music, featuring favourite songs performed by Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, Dionne Warwick and others.{{cite web |title=Past Projects |url=https://www.parkinsonproductions.co.uk/projects/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=Parkinson Productions}}

Parkinson gave the keynote address in Sydney on Australia Day 2011, the first non-Australian to do so.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/19/3116367.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119053339/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/19/3116367.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2011 |title=Parkinson to give Australia Day speech |newspaper=ABC News |date=19 January 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=3 June 2012}} Parkinson used the publicity surrounding his Australia Day appearance to promote the abolition of the Australian monarchy.{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-republic-inevitable-says-parky-20110124-1a2sc.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Australian republic inevitable, says Parky | date=24 January 2011}}

After finishing his talk show, Parkinson appeared in commercials for SunLife Guaranteed Over 50 Plan life insurance, stating that he liked "its no-nonsense approach to business".{{cite web|url=http://www.sunlifedirect.co.uk/LifeMatters/CoffeeBreak/SunLifeNews/SirMichaelParkinson/ |title=60-second interview with Sir Michael Parkinson |work=Sun Life Direct |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120072242/http://www.sunlifedirect.co.uk/LifeMatters/CoffeeBreak/SunLifeNews/SirMichaelParkinson/ |archive-date=20 January 2013 }} His role in advertising the scheme was criticised by financial journalist Martin Lewis, who argued in 2012 that the plan was "poor value" for customers.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/savings/9266217/Martin-Lewis-the-over-50s-plans-with-a-hitch.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/savings/9266217/Martin-Lewis-the-over-50s-plans-with-a-hitch.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Martin Lewis: the over-50s plans with a hitch|work=The Telegraph|date=15 May 2012|access-date=30 June 2013}}{{cbignore}}

Parkinson was a critic of the apartheid system governing South Africa until the 1990s and wrote a monthly sports column for Anti-Apartheid News, the official newspaper of the Anti-Apartheid Movement, upon its launch in 1965. He was particularly vocal on the topic of accommodating the wishes of the apartheid government in the sphere of international cricket, accusing the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of being "racialists of the worst kind" in his Sunday Times column for initially excluding the South African-born mixed-race England cricketer Basil D'Oliveira from the England team touring South Africa in 1968–69. He also opposed a planned South African tour of England in 1970, characterising the MCC's defence of the tour as "a rag-bag of cliche, red herring, zig-zagging, bobbing and weaving", and judging their justification of it as having "all the watertight qualities of a string bag". He went on to write the foreword to Colin Shindler's history of the campaign against the 1970 tour, Barbed Wire and Cucumber Sandwiches. He was also a founding sponsor of the Anti-Nazi League in 1977.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/20/michael-parkinson-peter-hain-anti-apartheid-south-africa-cricket-tour |title=Michael Parkinson was a radical anti-racist as well as a national treasure |last=Hain |first=Peter|author-link=Peter Hain |date=20 August 2023|website=The Guardian|access-date=20 August 2023}}

In 2009, Parkinson bemoaned the state of television generally, saying in a Radio Times interview that he was "fed up with the rise of celebrities hosting shows, ridiculously titled documentaries and property shows",{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12225132|title=Michael Parkinson obituary: Setting the standard for TV talk shows|work=BBC News|date=17 August 2023|access-date=17 August 2023}} and also saying: "In my television paradise there would be no more property programmes, no more police-chasing-yobbos-in-cars programmes and, most of all and please God, no more so-called documentary shows with titles like My 20-Ton Tumour, My Big Fat Head, Wolf Girl, Embarrassing Illnesses and The Fastest Man on No Legs."{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/michael-parkinson-roasts-television-chefs-394899 |title=Michael Parkinson roasts television chefs and property shows for 'dumbing down Britain' |work=Daily Mirror |date=19 May 2009 |access-date=3 June 2012}} On 11 October 2010, Parkinson appeared on Richard Bacon's Radio 5 Live show, and was particularly critical of comedian and actor Russell Brand, saying: "I don't see the point of him."{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00bjsn0 |title=BBC Radio 5 live – Richard Bacon, Michael Parkinson, 'I don't see the point of Russell Brand' |publisher=BBC |date=11 October 2010 |access-date=3 June 2012}}

In 2013, Parkinson again criticised the course British television had taken, comparing series such as The One Show unfavourably with the broadcasting of the recently deceased Alan Whicker and David Frost, as well as stating the "cult of youth" had "distorted the standards". Parkinson spoke fondly of the time when "producers were unencumbered by such irksome obstacles as compliance, health and safety and frustrating commissioning procedures".[http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-09-09/michael-parkinson-programmes-like-the-one-show-dont-live-up-to-david-frosts-legacy Michael Parkinson: programmes like The One Show don't live up to David Frost's legacy]. Radio Times. 9 September 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013. Alex Jones, presenter of The One Show, rejected Parkinson's criticism.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10309651/BBC-One-Show-host-Alex-Jones-hits-back-at-Sir-Michael-Parkinson.html |title=BBC One Show host Alex Jones hits back at Sir Michael Parkinson|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|first=Richard |last=Eden|date= 15 September 2013|access-date= 13 October 2013}}

In August 2014, Parkinson was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text |title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories |first=Gina |last=Piccalo|newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=7 August 2014 |access-date=26 August 2014}} Parkinson had declined to apologise to Helen Mirren over an interview he conducted in 1975, where he implied that serious actors could not have large breasts. Mirren later described him as a "sexist old fart".{{cite news |title=Helen Mirren interview |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/8303064/Helen-Mirren-interview.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=1 November 2022|url-access=subscription}} On Piers Morgan's Life Stories in May 2019, Morgan suggested the comments were sexist. Parkinson replied: "Well, maybe. But nobody got hurt, nobody died."{{cite web |title=Michael Parkinson refuses to apologise to Helen Mirren over 'sexist' interview |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/michael-parkinson-helen-mirren-interview-sexism-apology-piers-morgan-a8932491.html |first=Jack |last=Shepherd|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/michael-parkinson-helen-mirren-interview-sexism-apology-piers-morgan-a8932491.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Independent |access-date=17 April 2022 |date=28 May 2019}}

==Personal life, illness and death==

On 22 August 1959, he married Mary Heneghan, who was from Doncaster. They had three children, including a son, Michael, who married the comedian and actress Fiona Allen.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/fiona-allen-why-i-want-to-dump-my-husband-123910.html|title=Fiona Allen: Why I want to dump my husband|date=12 January 2003|work=The Independent|accessdate=23 September 2023}} In the 1970s, Parkinson campaigned in support of birth control, having had a vasectomy in 1972 to allow his wife to stop taking oral contraceptive pills.Bennett, Stephanie, "A Present for Mrs Parkinson", Cosmopolitan (UK), issue 1, March 1972.

Parkinson was a cricket fan and in 1990 hosted a World XI team against Yorkshire. Parkinson and his wife lived in Bray, Berkshire.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/101/101224.html |title=Cricket Archive |publisher=Cricket Archive |date=1 September 1990 |access-date=3 June 2012}} He met his friend Michel Roux when rowing down the River Thames on a Sunday to The Waterside Inn, then owned by Roux.{{cite news| url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5114869.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125190746/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5114869.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 January 2013 | title=How We Met: Michael Parkinson & Michel Roux – "Friendship is not |newspaper=The Independent}} Parkinson acquired a Michelin-starred restaurant near his home in Berkshire in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.theroyaloakpaleystreet.com/about|title = A bit about the Royal Oak Paley Street|publisher=The Royal Oak Paley Street|access-date=7 July 2017}} In an interview with Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne on the RTÉ religious programme The Meaning of Life, he stated that he was an agnostic atheist.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/meaningoflife/s4p1.html |title=RTÉ Television – The Meaning of Life |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |date=20 October 2010 |access-date=26 August 2014}}

A resident of Thames Valley, Parkinson was a patron of the local animal charity Swan Lifeline that rescues and treats swans and waterfowl, supporting the cause by attending lunches to raise awareness and money for the charity.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-04 |title=Parkinson talks John Wayne, Meg Ryan and that Emu attack |url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/10025495.parkinson-talks-john-wayne-meg-ryan-and-that-emu-attack/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Bucks Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Charity dedicated to saving swans marks 30 year anniversary |url=https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/eton---eton-wick/69786/Charity-dedicated-to-saving-swans-marks.html |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk |date=29 April 2016 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Merchant |first=Paul |date=2012-10-22 |title=Swan Lifeline Charity Lunch with Sir Michael Parkinson at the Compleat Angler |url=https://www.mymarlow.co.uk/2012/10/swan-lifeline-charity-lunch-with-sir-michael-parkinson-at-the-compleat-angler/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=My Marlow |language=en-US}}

In 2010, the National Portrait Gallery acquired a painted portrait of Parkinson, which it had commissioned from the artist Jonathan Yeo, for its permanent collection.{{cite web |title=NPG 6899; Michael Parkinson – Portrait – National Portrait Gallery |url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw193578 |website=National Portrait Gallery, London |access-date=17 August 2023}}

In 2013, Parkinson announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In 2015 he was given the all-clear from the disease.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33378837|title=Sir Michael Parkinson given cancer all-clear|work=BBC News|date=3 July 2015}}

Parkinson died at home on 16 August 2023 following a brief illness, aged 88.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66411604|title=Sir Michael Parkinson: Chat show host dies aged 88|work=BBC News|date=17 August 2023}}{{cite news |title=Sir Michael Parkinson, king of the chat show, dies aged 88 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/17/sir-michael-parkinson-broadcaster-dead-88/ |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Jamie |last=Bullen|access-date=17 August 2023}}{{cite news |date=17 August 2023 |title=Sir Michael Parkinson, broadcaster who won the nation's affections with his long-running chat show – obituary |work=The DailyTelegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/08/17/sir-michael-parkinson-chat-show-television-celebrity/ |access-date=17 August 2023 |issn=0307-1235}}

In 1999, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Lincoln and he also received an honorary D.Litt. from the University of Huddersfield in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.hud.ac.uk/news/visitors/honorarygraduates/2008/#d.en.22199 |title=2008 – University of Huddersfield |publisher=Hud.ac.uk |access-date=26 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190857/http://www.hud.ac.uk/news/visitors/honorarygraduates/2008/#d.en.22199 |archive-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} He was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Prince Charles in November 2000 for services to broadcasting, awarded in the 2000 Birthday Honours.{{cite news|title=Parky picks up CBE|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1038267.stm|work=BBC News|date=24 November 2000|access-date=14 August 2007}}United Kingdom: {{London Gazette |issue=55879 |date=19 June 2000 |pages=8 |supp=1 }} Parkinson was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2008 New Year's Honours List;{{London Gazette|issue=58557|date=29 December 2007|supp=y}} he remarked that he was "not the type to get a knighthood" coming as he did "from Barnsley. They give it to anyone nowadays."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7162548.stm |title=Parkinson bows out with honour |work=BBC News |date=29 December 2007 |access-date=3 June 2012}}

Parkinson was ranked eighth"8: Parkinson", 2000, at [http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/list/prog.php?id=8 BFI.org.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211044827/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/tv/100/list/prog.php?id=8 |date=11 February 2006 }}. Retrieved 13 October 2006. in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute in 2000, voted for by industry professionals. In April 2006, Parkinson was awarded honorary patronage of the University Philosophical Society of Trinity College Dublin.{{cite book |last1=Burden |first1=Charlie |last2=Newkey-Burden |first2=Chas |title=Arise Sir Michael Parkinson |date=September 2008 |publisher=Kings Road Publishing |isbn=978-1-84454-634-3 |page=246 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CmcEAAAQBAJ&dq=parkinson+honorary+patronage+of+the+University+Philosophical+Society+of+Trinity+College+Dublin.&pg=PA246}} He was voted number 20 in ITV's "TV's 50 Greatest Stars".{{cite web |title=Hire Michael Parkinson {{!}} Speaker Agent |url=https://motivationalspeakersagency.co.uk/presenters/michael-parkinson |publisher=The Motivational Speakers Agency |access-date=17 August 2023 }} On 4 June 2008 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7434642.stm |title=Parkinson collects his knighthood |work=BBC News |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=3 June 2012}}

On 11 November 2008, he became the first Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University; the role included representing the university and conferring degrees at graduation ceremonies. Upon receiving the honour he said, "I am honoured to be offered the chancellorship at Nottingham Trent University. In television I have always worked with young, ambitious people and I am keen to be involved in this university which helps to realise the aspirations of the young. It will also give me an opportunity to see what I missed!".{{cite web|url=http://www.ntu.ac.uk/news/press_releases/62382.html/ |title=Sir Michael Parkinson Appointed as First Chancellor |publisher=Ntu.ac.uk |date=29 July 2008 |access-date=3 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412191945/http://www.ntu.ac.uk/news/press_releases/62382.html |archive-date=12 April 2009 }} Parkinson had served as president of the Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain since 2005, the largest national organisation of sports journalists in the world.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/P/htmlP/parkinsonmi/parkinsonmi.htm Michael Parkinson] at the MBC's Encyclopedia of Television ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923051300/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/P/htmlP/parkinsonmi/parkinsonmi.htm |date=23 September 2006 }})
• {{IMDb name|id=0662858|name=Michael Parkinson}}
• {{Discogs artist|Michael Parkinson (2)}}
• {{NPG name|id=121668}}

{{Desert Island Discs}}

{{British Academy Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkinson, Michael}}

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