Michael Parkinson death: Presenter said ‘mutual loathing’ was behind infamous Helen Mirren interview
Broadcaster died ‘peacefully’ at home in the company of his family
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Tributes to Sir Michael Parkinson are pouring in after the legendary broadcaster died aged 88.
Parkinson’s family confirmed the news in a statement to the BBC on Thursday (17 August).
“After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family,” said the family. They have requested “privacy and time to grieve”.
Born the son of a miner in Cudworth, South Yorkshire, Parkinson started his career in local journalism, taking on roles at The Guardian and The Daily Express before he pivoted to screen roles.
Over an illustrious career that spanned seven decades, Parkinson interviewed a number of high-profile guests including Muhammad Ali, Sir Billy Connolly, and Helen Mirren.
His flagship talk show, Parkinson, ran for 11 years on the BBC starting in 1971. It was later revived in 1998, ending in 2007.
What happened with Michael Parkinson and the Emu?
Among the clips making the rounds is the chat show host’s eccentric 1976 interview with comedian Rod Hull and Emu, in which Parkinson was “terrorised” by the puppet bird.
In the clip, Parkinson is seen introducing the pair, at which point Emu grabs him by the nose using his beak.
After the Parkinson presenter reaches out to pet the bird’s head, he is snapped at again. The puppet then begins rubbing Parkinson’s head, before pecking at him and ripping up his notes.
When Michael Parkinson was terrorised by a puppet in 1976
Legendary presenter incurred the wrath of ‘that bloody bird’ on his BBC series
Eventually, Emu begins pecking at Parkinson to such a furious degree that the presenter is toppled off his chair.
Billy Connelly, another guest on the series, joked that he would “break [Hull’s] arm” if the bird attempted to do the same to him.
Parkinson would go on to lament his encounter with “that bloody bird”, joking that it threatened to overshadow the rest of his illustrious seven-decade career.
Michael Caine on the ‘cockney frame of mind’ on Parkinson
The bespectacled, mustachioed Michael Caine was among the many high-profile actors to be interviewed by Parkinson in his time.
During his TV appearance, Caine spoke about the cockney “frame of mind”.
“For a start you never take anything at all seriously,” he told Parkinson. “Especially dignity and pomposity.”
The Batman star added that another trademark is “a natural quick wit”, joking that “it won’t necessarily be obvious in me tonight – but it’s there”.
Michael Parkinson weighed in on the BBC debate in his last ever interview
In his final interview with New Statesman, published in March 2023, Parkinson expressed strong feelings about the BBC.
Speaking to Kate Mossman, he said: “I worked there when it was a dream factory, at its zenith of creative power and audience involvement.”
Does he still support the licence fee? “Yes. It is not a case of ‘To pay or not to pay?’ – it’s what we should pay for and what we will miss if we don’t. The BBC’s future is being debated in the destructive, binary fashion all issues of public interest are prey to in the present day.”
Mossman writes: “Parkinson believes the need for the BBC is more urgent than ever. ‘When charlatans and snake-oil salesmen occupy high office, and when the truth is a relative concept, there has never been a more important time for the public service broadcaster to go back to its Reithian principles. The BBC should bring a sane, quiet, informed and varied voice to a world of hysterical bellowing and instantaneous judgement.’”
Michael Parkinson - The last interview
The veteran talk-show host on broadcasting’s halcyon days, car-crash interviews and today’s “charlatans in high office”.
Parkinson opens up about infamous Meg Ryan interview
Elsewhere in the same interview, Parkinson spoke about his infamous interview with Meg Ryan for which he previously apologised.
“There comes a moment where, on television, you have to face the fact that things don’t go quite as you planned,” he says. “She was going through a bad time, she’d had a broken love affair, she was at the end of a tour, and she was promoting a film [In the Cut] which she was obviously disappointed in,” said Parkinson.
“She was not in a good mood, and nor was I. I’d planned something jollier and she let me down. I thought, I’m giving you the stuff, but it’s coming back sour. I thought, ‘Christ, I’ve been booby-trapped here.’ So I lost my temper and I shouldn’t have done. I decided that the only way out was to say, ‘For Christ’s sake, woman, talk sense!’”
Michael Parkinson defined the British chat show
With his relaxed charm and Yorkshire brogue, Michael Parkinson got some of the world’s biggest stars to open up. Martin Chilton pays tribute to once-in-a generation broadcaster Michael Parkinson, who has died at the age of 88
Michael Parkinson interviews George Michael in hilarious exchange
In the wake of Parkinson’s death, a number of his most memorable interviews are resurfacing on social media.
One such clip is of Parkinson interviewing George Michael in 1998. The Wham! star was brought on a guest after he had been arrested over “lewd” behaviour in Losa Angeles.
The humorous exchange, in which the singer told Parkinson that he had been allowed to stay up late as a child only to watch his chat show, has delighted fans.
Eddie Izzard pays tribute to ‘king of the intelligent interview’
Izzard was among the first to pay tribute to the late broadcaster, sharing news of his death accompanied with the caption: “Very sad to hear that Michael Parkinson has left us. He was the king of the intelligent interview.”
‘Two legends’
Also making the rounds on social media is Parkinson’s 2002 interview with the late Robin Williams.
During their chat, the duo spoke about the changes to airport security post-9/11, and Williams’ early comedic influences.
What happened with Michael Parkinson and the Emu?
Among the clips making the rounds is the chat show host’s eccentric 1976 interview with comedian Rod Hull and Emu, in which Parkinson was “terrorised” by the puppet bird.
In the clip, Parkinson is seen introducing the pair, at which point Emu grabs him by the nose using his beak.
After the Parkinson presenter reaches out to pet the bird’s head, he is snapped at again. The puppet then begins rubbing Parkinson’s head, before pecking at him and ripping up his notes.
Read more:
Legendary presenter incurred the wrath of ‘that bloody bird’ on his BBC series
Eventually, Emu begins pecking at Parkinson to such a furious degree that the presenter is toppled off his chair.
Billy Connelly, another guest on the series, joked that he would “break [Hull’s] arm” if the bird attempted to do the same to him.
Parkinson would go on to lament his encounter with “that bloody bird”, joking that it threatened to overshadow the rest of his illustrious seven-decade career.
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