'Chat Show' host Micheal Parkinson dies at 88

Michael Parkinson, a seasoned British chat show presenter whose decades-long career included conversations with some of the most well-known people in the world, passed away on Thursday at the age of 88, his family announced.

He became well-known because of the June 1971 debut of his BBC series "Parkinson."

He had a brief illness before passing away late on Wednesday.

Peter Sellers, Paul McCartney, Fred Astaire, Muhammad Ali, Elton John, and Fred Astaire are just a few of the well-known figures that have appeared on his interview couch.

Others included Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Cruise, Helen Mirren, David Bowie, Lauren Bacall, and Lauren Bacall.

“Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family,” his family said in a statement, requesting “privacy and time to grieve”.

Before being resurrected in 1998, the famous interviewer's BBC chat show had a successful run up until 1982.

In 2004, he left the BBC for ITV, a commercial competitor, where he remained until 2007.

Late in 2007, David Beckham, Michael Caine, Judy Dench, environmental broadcaster David Attenborough, and comedian Billy Connolly all appeared on Parkinson's final two-hour programme.

Parkinson received a knighthood from the late Queen in 2008 at Buckingham Palace.

“I never expected to be knighted — I thought there was more chance of me turning into a Martian really,” said the broadcaster who grew up the son of a miner in a working-class community in northern England. 

Source