   Trivia
Honours and Accolades
Bio
Michael Parkinson, or "Parky" as he is familiarly known, was born in Cudworth near Barnsley, on 28th March 1935. He is broadcaster and journalist. He is most famous for presenting his eponymous interview programme, Parkinson, which began in 1971 and ended in 2007. Considered by many to be the undisputed champion of the chat show, Michael Parkinson is familiar to listeners and viewers all over Britain.
Michael moved into television as a producer for Granada Television, before going on to host a number of shows, including the celebrated Parkinson. During the 1960s, Parkinson moved into television, working on current affairs programmes for both the BBC and Manchester-based Granada Television and then followed a vast career. The British Film Institute has an extensive overview and filmography of Parkinson's work. Parkinson holds a prolific 451 credits as a presenter on his own and teamed with others. From 1969, he introduced a film review programme, before moving on to become a chat show host and a household name in the United Kingdom. Parkinson is best known for hosting his well-known show Parkinson. It featured only the most famous celebrities, but generally avoided posing sensitive questions. Parkinson has interviewed over 1,000 of the world's most famous people. In October 2003, Parkinson had a controversial interview with Meg Ryan on his talk show, whilst she was in the United Kingdom to promote her film "In the Cut". He later commented that it was his most difficult television moment. His one professional regret was that he never interviewed Frank Sinatra.
Parkinson took over BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 1985, after the death of its creator, Roy Plomley. He stayed for three years until handing over to Sue Lawley. Between 1994 and 1996 he hosted Parkinson on Sport on BBC Radio Five Live. From 1996 he presented a Sunday morning show on BBC Radio 2 called Parkinson's Sunday Supplement, which featured a newspaper and entertainment round-up (with the help of various journalists) and a lengthy interview with a media personality. These were interspersed with music that demonstrates his penchant for jazz and big-band arrangements. Parkinson retired from the programme in December 2007.
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He was an enthusiastic club cricketer, and both he and his opening partner at Barnsley Cricket Club, Dickie Bird, had trials for Yorkshire. Parkinson began as a journalist on local newspapers, and his Yorkshire background and accent remain an important part of his appeal. He then worked as a reporter on the Manchester Guardian and later on the Daily Express in London. He also did National Service as Britain's youngest ever army captain and was involved in the Suez Operation.
He was one of the original line-up of TV-am, together with Angela Rippon, Anna Ford and Robert Kee, who were all eventually replaced with younger talent. He also took over as host of Thames Television's Give Us a Clue from Michael Aspel.