TV legend, top listener, Barnsley fan: Parkinson remembered

1. There've been tributes to the broadcaster and chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson, who's died aged 88
2. He interviewed some of the world's biggest stars, including Muhammad Ali and Sir Elton John
3. Sir Elton describes him as "a real icon who brought out the very best in his guests"
4. Sir David Attenborough remembers the Yorkshire-born presenter as "the best interviewer in the business"
5. "He was extremely generous, he wanted you to shine and would always laugh at your jokes," Attenborough says
6. TV presenter Gloria Hunniford says he was "the most brilliant listener" who championed others
7. You can also watch tributes to Parkinson by pressing play at the top of the page

That's all from us

BBC

After plenty of tributes and memories, we're bringing our coverage of the death of Michael Parkinson to a close now.

Throughout the day, we've heard from Elton John, Michael Caine, Theresa May, Stephen Fry, Gloria Hunniford and a whole host of others, who have shared admiration and anecdotes after the veteran broadcaster died aged 88.

We've also had some of the most famous clips from his long career - watch the highlights here. You can also:

• Read our news story with a selection of the tributes here
• Find out more about Michael Parkinson's life in our obituary here
• See pictures of Parkinson and his star chat show guests here

Thanks for joining us.

'He was king of the interview'

BBC

Mike Smith, Michael Parkinson and Sarah Greene presented the Halloween show Ghostwatch in 1992

Sarah Greene co-hosted pseudo-documentary Ghostwatch with Michael Parkinson in 1992, and shared her memories of him on Woman's Hour on Radio 4 earlier.

Greene described Parkinson as "the king of the interview", and said he invented the interview style of letting someone speak but knowing how to direct it and guide it.

Referring to their time working on the one-off Ghostwatch programme, she said: "Not only was he the king, he was also a fantastic actor, which anyone who hasn’t seen Ghostwatch just needs to go and look to find out. A wonderful man."

Read the wild tale about how Ghostwatch duped the nation here.

Parkinson was kind and calming after my mum died - Rayner

BBC

"Farewell Parky," says journalist and food critic Jay Rayner, as he shares an anecdote on X, formerly Twitter about being on TV with Parkinson.

Rayner says when they appeared on the One Show together, Rayner was mourning the recent loss of his mum, and Parkinson was a "kind and calming presence" - adding that "he was always a joy" whenever they met.

He says Parkinson was "a truly brilliant journalist and interviewer and a very lovely man".

'Number one, he's ugly': Muhammad Ali roasts rival on Parkinson

Boxer Muhammad Ali tells Parkinson why he's a 'crowd puller'

In a famous 1971 interview, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali told Parkinson why he believed he's a "crowd-puller" and his sporting opponent Joe Frazier was not.

Watch the 19-second clip below - as our headline suggests, Ali didn't hold back:

Watch more memorable Parkinson interview clips here.

Parkinson defined TV chat shows' golden era - Young

BBC

Former Desert Island Discs presenter Kirsty Young pays tribute to Michael Parkinson, who also hosted the same Radio 4 show for two years.

Young says Parkinson "defined the golden era of the TV chat show", adding: "Whether it was Muhammad Ali, WH Auden or Billy Connolly sitting opposite, his journalistic sensibility was underpinned by an instinct to entertain."

"Informed, affable, agile and quietly charismatic, he existed in an era when the combination of real conversation with proper superstars made for fascinating viewing," she says.

'That'll never make number one'

Love Actually

Sir Parkinson starring opposite Bill Nighy in Love Actually

If you're not that familiar with Parkinson's work as a journalist and chat-show host, you might know him from a fairly memorable scene in Love Actually.

In the movie, Bill Nighy plays down-on-his-luck rock legend Billy Mack who has recorded a Christmas version of the Troggs' 1967 song Love Is All Around. Despite loathing the record, Mack promotes it, hoping it will become the Christmas number one.

This brings us to the scene where a very crude Mack is being interviewed by Parkinson, to whom he assures that should his song make it to the top spot, he will sing a song "stark naked on TV on Christmas Eve" before asking the host if he would like a preview.

Mack then unbuttons his pants and runs toward Parkinson who comments "that'll never make number one!"

WATCH: Posh and Becks reveal 'Golden Balls' nickname

Posh Spice shares her special nickname for husband David Beckham

When Parkinson interviewed Posh and Becks - aka Victoria and David Beckham - in 2001, Posh Spice revealed her special nickname for her husband, much to the audience's amusement.

David Beckham has posted on social media today saying he was "so lucky" to be interviewed by "the best".

Watch more memorable moments from Parkinson's star-studded show here.

Rippon: Parkinson leaves 'a treasure trove of conversations'

The TV presenter and journalist Angela Rippon says Sir Michael Parkinson was "a pal, a colleague and the most outstanding interviewer of his generation".

In a statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), she says "he listened to what his guests said" and "had a conversation with them rather than mechanically going through a list of questions or haranguing them".

"As a result he has left a treasure trove of conversations with some of the greatest names of the 20th century".

WATCH: Meg Ryan's frosty Parkinson interview

Parkinson's awkward interview with US actor Meg Ryan

Parkinson's 2003 interview with Meg Ryan was an awkward encounter in which the US actor responded rather icily to the chat show host.

The pair clashed when discussing a film which Ryan starred in - The Cut - in which she appeared nude.

Ryan described Parkinson as being rude and likened him to a "disapproving dad".

Parkinson later apologised to her and told Radio Times: "I came across as kind of pompous and I could have done better", adding that "neither of us were on top form".

Watch other memorable moments from Parkinson's interviews here

Theresa May remembers mutual love of cricket

Theresa May/Twitter

The former PM Theresa May says she is "saddened" to hear of Parkinson's death, who she describes as "a remarkable man and an outstanding broadcaster".

May posted her tribute on X (previously Twitter), saying "we knew each other well through his charitable work and our mutual passion for cricket".

Parkinson was brilliant listener who championed others - Hunniford

BBC

TV presenter Gloria Hunniford remembered her friend Parkinson on the BBC a little earlier.

"He wasn't only the most brilliant interviewer, but the most brilliant listener", she said. "That's why he always got so much out of his guests."

Hunniford went on to call him an "all-round" person, talking about his passions for cricket, music and people, telling the story of how he raised money for her foundation.

"When my daughter Karen passed, she was writing two books. I finished them off and that's when he asked me to go on the programme.

"After the show he said if I ever wanted him to do a theatre show with clips from his programmes to raise money for my foundation, he would. And so he did.

"He championed other people."

Watch Yorkshire cricket's silent tribute

Michael Parkinson was not just well-known for his celebrity interviews - he was an avid cricket fan too.

A little earlier, spectators paid tribute to the cricket-loving Yorkshireman with a minute's silence at York Cricket Club, ahead of a game against Hampshire.

Take a look in this 20-second clip:

A minute's silence was held ahead of a game in York

'I was lucky to benefit from Parkinson's curiosity'

BBC

Michael Parkinson's programme was one of the first big TV appearances for singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum.

Posting on Instagram, Cullum writes: "He was an extremely generous person who spent a huge amount of his time listening to people speak about their passions and expertise, to the benefit of all of us. I was lucky enough to be a beneficiary of his curiosity."

In the image of a handwritten note, Cullum adds: "What struck me was how he always had an interest in the mechanics of how you did things.

"How difficult passages of music might become muscle memory, what kind of dedication and obsession that might take. You knew when he was asking a question, that he genuinely wanted to know the answer, on camera or off."

Sir Michael Caine: Parkinson was irreplaceable

Getty Images

The two Michaels at Langan's Brasserie in London in 1987

Actor Sir Michael Caine reacts to the news of Parkinson's death, tweeting that he always looked forward to being interviewed by him:

"Michael Parkinson was irreplaceable, he was charming, always wanted to have a good laugh," Caine writes.

Caine was part of Sir Parkinson's "Final Conversation" chat-show episode in 2007 and joins the chorus of tributes saying he brought the best out of everyone he met.

Gary Lineker calls Parkinson a Saturday night staple

Gary Lineker says he's "saddened to hear" about Parkinson's passing.

He echoes many of the sentiments shared in other tributes by pointing to his "brilliant and wonderful" broadcast and interview skills.

Lineker remembers back to the Saturday night TV of his childhood:

He was very much part of Saturday nights growing up: Parkinson then Match Of The Day. RIP Parky."

Fans remember George Michael's first Parkinson appearance

Reuters

Lots of you are sharing a clip of singer George Michael's appearance on Parkinson's programme in 1998.

In the interview - which happened after the singer was arrested for public lewdness in Los Angeles - was the singer's first appearance on the show and it's the introduction that's got people talking today.

Michael starts by telling Parkinson what a "great honour" it is to be on the show, recalling how as a child his mother would allow him to stay up late to watch the programme - before referencing the reason he had been in the news that year.

You can watch the clip here

Parkinson 'was one of the greats' - Sir Elton John

Elton John on Instagram

Pop legend Sir Elton John describes Parkinson as "a real icon who brought out the very best in his guests".

Posting a picture of the two of them on Instagram, Sir Elton says "I loved his company and his incredible knowledge of cricket and Barnsley Football Club."

He says Parkinson was "a TV legend who was one of the greats", and sends his condolences and love to Sir Michael's wife and family.

Alastair Campbell: Parkinson 'source of support'

The podcast host, author and former political spin doctor Alastair Campbell describes Parkinson as "a great journalist, a wonderful interviewer and a real source of warmth, energy and zest for life".

Campbell, who has written about his struggles with depression, tweets that Parkinson and his wife Mary "were also a real source of support and encouragement when things got a bit tough at times".

PA Media

Lady Mary Parkinson and Sir Michael Parkinson

Lord Grade: He was a master of his craft

Lord Michael Grade, a former BBC and ITV chair, has paid tribute to Parkinson, calling the former interviewer a "master of his craft".

"I don’t really know of any chat-shows other than the Parkinson show that were absolutely an appointment to view. He was incredibly reliable, he got the biggest stars of the day to talk to," Grade tells the BBC.

He says he always wanted to get the best interviews out of his guests, and suspects Parkinson never interviewed anyone "he didn’t admire and respect for their talent and he got the best out of people".

Grade recounts meeting Parkinson for the first time when he was a talent agent and had seen some of his work. He then decided to approach him and offered to be his agent "and I never heard another word", Grade says.

He also echoes a number of other tributes talking about how genuine Parkinson was and how despite his incredible career, he never lost sight of his roots.

Getty Images

Parkinson on the set of a television show in 1985.

He was a very good and very proud journalist - Michael Palin

Michael Palin has been speaking to Radio 4's World at One programme about Michael Parkinson.

"He was a very good interviewer," Palin says. "He wanted to get people on his show who entertained him and therefore who he thought would entertain the audience."

Palin goes on to say: "It didn't always work. In some cases, people [interviewees] suspected what they saw as the difficult questions he might ask in among all the fun and the enjoyment."

"He was a very good journalist, and a very proud journalist, and it was very important for him not to give people an easy ride. But he did basically choose people he liked, because he liked to be entertained himself," Palin says.

Michael Palin will be on the programme, along with Sir David Attenborough - you can listen to it here