Parkinson was close friends with the former cricket umpire Dickie Bird, who says:

Bird and Parkinson had known each other since "they were youngsters" and played for Barnsley Cricket Club together.

Their fathers worked in the mines together.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One this afternoon, Sir David Attenborough remembered Parkinson as "the best interviewer in the business".

"[He was] extremely professional, you knew he would know all the background and you didn't have to fill in anything.

"You knew that he would do his homework and that he would ask questions that didn't occur to you.

"He was extremely generous, he wanted you to shine and would always laugh at your jokes and give you an opportunity to make them sound funnier than in fact they were," Sir David told the BBC.

Attenborough added that he made guests feel at ease, "it was like meeting a friend" he said.

At a time when broadcasters were overwhelmingly southern, Sir David said Parkinson's northern accent was "a very refreshing voice in those days".

You can listen to Attenborough's full interview on the World at One from 13:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

In 1972, Sir Michael Parkinson did a turn as a castaway on BBC Radio Four's Desert Island Discs, talking to Roy Plomley about his life and early career.

Have a listen to hear him talk about how he wanted to be a musician but couldn't "play a note", his father's insistence he didn't go down the mines, his time as a newspaper journalist and how he got into TV.

Parkinson went on to host the Radio 4 show himself, following Plomley's death in May 1985. His first castaway, on 5 January 1986, was the film director Alan Parker. He hosted the show until March 1988, presenting nearly 100 programmes.

Over on 5 Live this morning, Nicky Campbell has been asking listeners for their memories of Michael Parkinson, here's a selection of them:

Chris in Wimborne was on a canal boat holiday in 1976 when he sailed past Parkinson's house and waved.

Roy was working as a mechanic and fixed the presenter's car:

The British boxer Frank Bruno says Sir Michael Parkinson was "able to frame and gift wrap the guest to deliver to TV viewer", calling him "one of the best interviewers ever".

Bruno says he and Sir Michael spoke about his famous Muhammad Ali interview and he remembers Parkinson describing it as "TV pure gold".

Bruno tweeted, external "I met him on a number of occasions", adding it is a "sad day" with his passing.

Actor and comedian Eric Idle, one of the co-creators of Monty Python's Flying Circus, references Parkinson's love of cricket and called him a "great Yorkshireman" in his tribute.

Idle, who also says Sir Michael was "a lovely interviewer to be with" famously appeared on his talk show in 1982 to talk about the sketch comedy series.

He recalls how the Monty Python members were first received rather frostily in the US.

Here's a look at some of the big names that appeared on Parkinson's shows.

Image source, ITV/Shutterstock

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

Dara Ó'Briain has been looking back on his three appearances on Parkinson's late night show, describing it as the time he felt like he was "proper showbiz".

"He was a consummate pro on-screen, and generous and encouraging off-screen," Ó'Briain says, and shared an anecdote of Parkinson's lack of nerves before his show on Twitter:

Matt Lucas also remembered him, external as a "titan of television" and "the ultimate chat show host".

Lucas highlights his interviews with Muhammad Ali, Dame Edna and Billy Connolly as standouts.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Parkinson was one of Barnsley football club's most famous supporters and the League One team has said it is "deeply saddened" by his death.

Speaking to The Telegraph in 2021, Parkinson said he had gone to his first match at the club's Oakwell ground as a five-year-old and had supported the club for more than eight decades.

"None of us Barnsley fans think we can get up [to the Premier League], but the chance to dream is what football is all about," he said.

The club said in a tweet, external that "the town has lost one of its favourite sons, and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time".

In a change tonight's scheduled programming, BBC One will show Parkinson at 50 at 21:00 BST.

The documentary is available to watch on iPlayer now.

In 2003, Meg Ryan proved to be one of Parkinson's more difficult interviews, as she was famously icy towards him during an interview.

The two clashed when discussing Ryan's then-recently released movie The Cut, in which she had a nude scene. Ryan described him as being rude, and the American actress eventually told him to "wrap it up".

She later said she felt like Parkinson was "berating me for being naked in the movie", likening him to a "disapproving dad".

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

Parkinson reflected on some of these notorious moments in 2016 during a chat on the perils of fame, saying on the Graham Norton Show that "in the end, people only remember you for all the foul-ups, the things that you most want to forget".

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes says Sir Michael Parkinson was "the king of the chat show hosts" and says "they don't make them like that any more".

Writing on Twitter, external, Holmes says it was "a privilege to know him on and off screen and to learn from him".

Image source, Eamonn Holmes on Twitter

Image source, Stephen Fry on Instagram

British writer, actor and comedian Stephen Fry said "having grown up watching him interview greats, my first appearance on Parkinson was impossibly thrilling for me".

Writing on Instagram, external. he said he "loved that man", adding "the genius of Parky was that unlike most people (and most of his guests, me included) he was always 100% himself. On camera and off. 'Authentic' is the word I suppose".

Fry shared a picture of his appearance on Parkinson's talk show alongside the former actor Robin Williams.

Broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth has paid tribute to Sir Michael Parkinson, calling him "one of my heroes" and "a lovely guy".

"There were chat shows, of course - but they were much more than that.

"They were truly engaging conversations that brought out the best in his guests. A privilege to have known and worked with him," he wrote on Twitter., external

Michael Parkinson was one of the great British interviewers, but even he had his less successful moments.

One infamous example was his interview with Helen Mirren in 1975, when Parkinson asked the then up-and-coming actress if her “equipment” had “hindered” her career.

She ran rings around him, external, saying “because serious actresses can’t have big bosoms, is that what you mean? I can’t think that can necessarily be true. I would hope the performance… overcomes such boring questions”.

Mirren later described Parkinson as a “sexist old fart”.

Speaking to the BBC in 2016, he admitted that re-watching the interview made him "cringe" because he "behaved like a prat".

And he said he felt he shouldn’t apologise over the incident, insisting that he and Mirren met again in 2008 and "laughed like two intelligent human beings".

Image source, 5 Live

Speaking during his phone-in on BBC Radio 5 Live, Nicky Campbell describes Sir Michael Parkinson as “the ultimate pro”.

“Me and so many others said growing up, ‘who do you want to be? I want to be Michael Parkinson,” he says.

Nicky says: "Every week we would think, ‘who’s Parkinson got this week’ he got the biggest stars on the planet.

“Can you imagine saying, ladies and gentlemen, Fred Astaire.”

Nicky remembers him as "one of the greatest interviewers of our age and a wonderful person".

Lord Alan Sugar says the news of Sir Michael Parkinson's death is "very sad" and calls it "the end of an era", writing on Twitter, external.

British comedian Eddie Izzard says Parkinson was the "king of the intelligent interview".

Izzard wrote on Twitter: "Very sad to hear that Michael Parkinson has left us. He was the king of the intelligent interview."

One of Parkinson’s most famous guests was the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.

The pair met four times, and the Ali that showed up each time was always slightly different – sometimes cocky, sometimes angry, sometimes vulnerable.

Ali’s famous, often-replayed clip describing latent racism where he asks “how come everything is white, external?” came during Parkinson’s interview with the boxer in 1971.

But interviewing Ali wasn’t always easy, as Parkinson recalled in a 2016 interview.

"You could only give the impression of getting a grip on him as he flashed by. He'd do you up like a kipper, completely overwhelm you with his huge personality,” he said.

Parkinson expressed his pride at the interviews, calling Muhammad Ali an “extraordinary person”.

"I'm so proud of those interviews. Parts of them are rough and ready but we got some things right and you come away with the impression of a remarkable man,” said Parkinson.

Watch more highlights here.

The BBC's director general Tim Davie has paid tribute, external to Sir Michael Parkinson.

Davie says: "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.

"Michael was truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed."

Actress and singer Elaine Paige says Sir Michael Parkinson was "a legendary interviewer that will be remembered as the best of his profession".

Writing on Twitter, external, the BBC radio 2 presenter and former musical theatre star says she had known Sir Michael Parkinson for "many years" and had sung on his TV chat show.

Paige says "we will never see his like again. RIP Michael".

Image source, Elaine Paige on X (formerly known as Twitter)