So long Parky!’: Stephen Fry leads showbiz greats paying tribute to Michael Parkinson who has died at 88
- Tributes flooded in from celebrities and famous names after the great’s death
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Cricket legend Dickie Bird today led tributes to his ‘dear friend’ Sir Michael Parkinson following the television chat show host’s death after a brief illness.
The pair opened the batting for Barnsley Cricket Club together and remained friends, with Parkinson ringing Bird earlier this week.
Former Yorkshire batter and international umpire Bird said: ‘I shall miss him, I’ll tell you that. Not only was he a friend but he was a dear friend and I just don’t know how I will cope, I will miss him so much.
‘There will never be another Parky.’
Earlier Stephen Fry said being interviewed by Parkinson was ‘impossibly thrilling’.
On Instagram, Fry wrote: ‘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.
‘For one of the shows I was on with Robin Williams, a genius of unimaginable comic speed and brilliance. Now they’re both gone.
Comedian Stephen Fry said being interviewed by Parkinson was ‘impossibly thrilling’
Eddie Izzard posted a tribute saying that Parkinson was the ‘king of the intelligent interview’
‘One should get used to the parade of people constantly falling off the edge, but frankly one doesn’t. So long #parky.’
Comedian Dara O Briain recalled Sir Michael Parkinson doing ‘the coolest thing I ever saw pre-show’ after the interviewer’s death.
He tweeted: ‘I had the privilege of doing the Michael Parkinson show 3 times and it the most I ever felt like I was in ‘proper showbiz’.
‘He was a consummate pro on-screen, and generous and encouraging off-screen. He also did the coolest thing I ever saw pre-show: I was standing with the guests, waiting for the show to start.
‘Michael arrived, chatted away to us, not a nerve in sight, when the band starting playing the theme tune. Michael paused, smiled and said ‘They’re playing my tune’ and walked straight out and started the show. Lovely.’
Elaine Paige was among the stars posting tributes to the chat show king she called ‘legendary’
Dara O Briain recalled his appearance on the show and the effortless cool Parkinson exuded
Eddie Izzard remembered Sir Michael Parkinson as the ‘king of the intelligent interview’.
Posting on Twitter, Izzard wrote: ‘Very sad to hear that Michael Parkinson has left us. He was the king of the intelligent interview.’
British comedian and actor Matt Lucas has described Sir Michael Parkinson as a ‘titan of television’ following his death.
The 49-year-old tweeted: ‘Sir Michael Parkinson was a titan of television, the ultimate chat show host.
‘We’ll never forget his brilliant interviews with Muhammad Ali, Dame Edna, Billy Connolly and, of course, ‘that bloody emu’.’
The BBC will re-air a celebration programme about Sir Michael Parkinson.
It tweeted: ‘In a change to scheduled programming, Parkinson At 50 will air on @BBCOne tonight from 9pm.
Sir Michael Parkinson dies aged 88 Michael Parkinson and Cilla Black many years ago
Michael Parkinson arriving with his wife Mary at the Royal Albert Hall in London, for a BAFTA Award ceremony
‘You can also watch the documentary on @BBCiPlayer now, along with some of Sir Michael Parkinson’s classic interviews.’
British singer and actress Elaine Paige paid tribute to Sir Michael Parkinson describing him as a ‘legendary interviewer’.
Sharing a picture of the pair on X, formerly Twitter, she said: ‘Such very sad breaking news that Sir Michael Parkinson has died.
British journalist David Frost; Viscount Linley and interviewer Michael Parkinson sit on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2000
‘Have known him for many years, sang on his TV chat show & attended many events with him.
‘A legendary interviewer that will be remembered as the best of his profession. We will never see his like again.’
Lord Alan Sugar tweeted: ‘Very sad news on the passing of Michael Parkinson. End of an era RIP.’
Eamonn Holmes said that knowing ‘on and off screen’ Sir Michael Parkinson was a ‘privilege’.
He wrote on Twitter, now known as X: ‘Parky. King of The Chat Show Hosts. A privilege to know him on and off screen and to learn from him.
‘They don’t make them like that anymore. Rip Sir Michael Parkinson.’
Broadcaster and author Gyles Brandreth said Sir Michael Parkinson was ‘one of my heroes’ in a moving post on social media.
He tweeted: ‘They were chat shows, of course – but they were mjuch (sic) more than that: they were truly engaging conversations that brought out the best in his guests.
‘And what an array of guests. ‘Parky’ was one of my heroes – and a lovely guy. A privilege to have known and worked with him.’
Barnsley FC said the club has ‘lost one of its favourite sons’ following the death of Sir Michael Parkinson.
The club tweeted: ‘Barnsley Football Club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Michael Parkinson CBE.
‘The town has lost one of its favourite sons, and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.’
Yorkshire County Cricket Club has said it is ‘saddened’ to learn of the death of Sir Michael Parkinson.
Sir Michael was a lifelong fan of cricket, with his childhood dreams of playing cricket for Yorkshire dashed when he left school aged 16 and instead began working at a local paper.
On Twitter, the club wrote: ‘Everyone at Yorkshire Cricket is saddened to learn of the passing of Sir Michael Parkinson.
‘The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Sir Michael’s family and friends.’
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