Sir Michael Parkinson has died

I thought he was a great interviewer in the early stages but, latterly, as he became more of a "celebrity himself, I felt there was too much name-dropping and cosy chats with his friends re golf and the like, which I felt excluded the audience.

Also, I agree that some of his comments to female interviewees were a bit cringeworthy.

I think he was great at interviewing men, but as previously mentioned he was very lewd with sexy younger women like Helen Mirren and Rachel Welch. Couldn't seem to get past their 'assets' as he called them. I didn't like that. Terry Wogan was able to interview absolutely anyone with no awkwardness whatever he was faced with!

Louella12

Callistemon21

I think WDYTYA at 9pm, BBC, this evening has been replaced with a tribute to Michael Parkinson.

Weirdly apt.

Parky had been approached to star in WDYTYA but his family was too boring!

Great interviewer. RIP

I didn't know that!

Callistemon21

I think WDYTYA at 9pm, BBC, this evening has been replaced with a tribute to Michael Parkinson.

Weirdly apt.

Parky had been approached to star in WDYTYA but his family was too boring!

Great interviewer. RIP

Won’t see his like again, RIP Sir Michael x

I think WDYTYA at 9pm, BBC, this evening has been replaced with a tribute to Michael Parkinson.

Oh yes, he was brilliant. A good age, but sad to hear.

Sorry to hear this. We used to look forward to his interviews.

I remember an interview with Robbie Williams when MP was very empathetic about his truggles with drugs and mental health. It certainly changed my view of Robbie.

And then there were the ones that had us in fits of giggles too!
RIP, Sir Michael

Never the like we'll see again. RIP Sir Michael.

He was one of a kind. RIP.

The Parkinsons and Stephenson/Connolly family were close neighbours in Bray, with houses backing onto the river
Thanks FandE, that would explain why we once saw Parky in a Thames wooden skiff.

A good interviewer who remembered why we have two ears and only one mouth.
RIP Sir.

RIP Parky

He flirted with Miss Piggy, definitely would not be allowed now 🙄

TerriBull

He didn't look very well the last time he was photographed. I'm probably alone in saying this, I wasn't always keen on his style of interviewing with some female guests, came across as intrusive sometimes, imo. Sorry to read he has died though.

His style of interviewing was ‘of its time’.

Don’t think it would seem so acceptable nowadays.

Wonder if they’ll show the Helen Mirren one?

Georgesgran

I hope Billy Connelly does the eulogy - I think Parky said he was one of his best guests. Billy had Parky in stitches every time.
RIP

The Parkinsons and Stephenson/Connolly family were close neighbours in Bray, with houses backing onto the river.

As with Michael Caine, Billy is a natural raconteur, turn the key and off they go. Parkinson’s skill was in allowing it and laughing in all the right places.

He had hard hitters too, like Dr Jacob Bronowski.
His journalistic background was his good foundation, checking research, digging deep, revelling in a scoop.
I remember him introducing Lauren Bacall then drying up, starstruck!
He is being mourned in Australia apparently, as they loved him there, cricket mad as he was.

Apparently the BBC wiped tapes of his earliest shows with Lennon for example.

This morning the DM heading was Parkinson, the man who interviewed John Legend!!

Mollygo

Sorry to hear about Parky. 💐💐I liked his early interviews. I obviously missed his interviews with young women.

I liked his interviews as well Mollygo we both must have missed the less pleasant ones.
RIP Parky.

Such a lovely man and brilliant at getting people to open up. Not many as good as he was.

So very sad to hear this news. Michael Parkinson was the best interviewer. RIP 💐

Sorry to hear about Parky. 💐💐I liked his early interviews. I obviously missed his interviews with young women.

Although on the whole I did like him, and am obviously sorry to hear he has died, I did find his interview technique to be a bit sycophantic at times, almost fawning over some of his guests.

His interviews with Billy Connolly were priceless! Sorry he has died , take on board the comments about the young women interviewees I don’t remember them but agree that’s not on. Mostly good shows though I did like him

Hmmm. I went right off him when I saw him interviewing a very young Charlotte Church. He was basically asking about her sex life and (to me anyway) came across as a dirty old man.
It made me cringe.

He didn't look very well the last time he was photographed. I'm probably alone in saying this, I wasn't always keen on his style of interviewing with some female guests, came across as intrusive sometimes, imo. Sorry to read he has died though.

RIP Parky 💐

So sad to hear, he was exceptional. RIP