Legendary UK broadcaster and chat present host Michael Parkinson has died aged 88, in line with his household.

An announcement from his household to the BBC learn: “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”

The British broadcaster was an evergreen on UK screens in a profession spanning seven a long time, and he interviewed the world’s largest stars on his long-running chat present.

Excessive-profile company included Muhammad Ali, Elton John, Madonna, Helen Mirren, Tom Cruise and Robert De Niro.

Parkinson obtained radiotherapy remedy for prostate most cancers in 2013, however received the all-clear from docs two years later.

BBC Director Common Tim Davie referred to as him “the king of the chat show” and mentioned he had “defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed.”

“He interviewed the biggest stars of the 20th century and did so in a way that enthralled the public,” he added. “Michael was not only brilliant at asking questions, he was also a wonderful listener.”

He went on to name him “truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed.”

Born in 1935 close to Barnsley, Parkinson started as a journalist on native newspapers earlier than working his method as much as The Day by day Categorical in London. He moved into TV within the Nineteen Sixties, beginning as a reporter and presenter on Twenty-4 Hours on BBC One.

He landed his personal present, the BBC’s Parkinson in 1971, and this ran first for 11 years after which returned between 1998 and 2007, transferring to ITV midway by means of. Throughout this time he had internet hosting gigs on numerous different exhibits.

Parkinson made his title for a number of the largest interviews of the latter half of the twentieth century, generally producing controversy and at different instances eliciting truths from the celebs of the day.

By his personal reckoning, Parkinson interviewed round 2,000 celebrities. Others he spoke to included Sir Ian McKellen, Peter Sellers, Billy Connolly, George Michael, Tom Hanks, David and Victoria Beckham and George Greatest.

Throughout his last present in 2007, Parkinson fought again tears as he was given an infinite standing ovation, and he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II the next 12 months. Since then, he had continued to jot down and seem on TV and radio.

He’s survived by spouse Mary Parkinson, a British journalist and TV presenter, and three kids.

Schedules cleared & tributes flood in

The BBC has cleared its 9 p.m. GMT (1 p.m. PT) schedule tonight to point out a repeat of anniversary particular Parkinson at 50, which aired in 2021 and noticed the celebrated host look again over 5 a long time as a broadcaster. Tonight’s repeat will substitute Who Do You Suppose You Are?, whereas a group of Parkinson’s traditional interviews have been made accessible to observe on iPlayer.

In the meantime, tributes flooded in on Twitter following the information.

BAFTA, which awarded Parkinson for Greatest Leisure Efficiency in 1999, mentioned it was “saddened to hear” of his loss of life, and that he had interviewed “some of the world’s biggest stars” throughout his seven-decades-long profession.

Presenter Eamonn Holmes mentioned it had been “a privilege to know him on and off screen and to learn from him.” “They don’t make them like that anymore,” he added.

Eddie Izzard referred to as Parkinson “king of the intelligent interview,” whereas As we speak host Nick Robinson mentioned he was the “greatest interviewer of our age.”