Parkinson fights back tears on final show

Michael Parkinson fought back tears as he brought down the curtain on his talk show career.

The TV legend had a ’wish list’ of guests on his last ever chat show, filmed last night.

David Beckham, Michael Caine, David Attenborough, Judi Dench, Edna Everage, Billy Connolly, Peter Kay and Jamie Cullum all took part in the two-hour special which will be shown on December 15.

Parkinson, who has been hosting his own talk show since 1971, told the audience: “I was told to pick a wish list and I put down these names and every single one of them is here.”

As the recording came to a close, he said: “Over the years it has been a privilege to meet some of the most intelligent and interesting people. It has always been a great joy and I shall miss it.”

He appeared visibly moved as he was given a standing ovation as the cameras stopped rolling and joked of his guests: “We’re all going to get pissed.”

Phoenix Nights comedian Kay, 34, used to be a warm up act on the show and last night made Parky, 72, dress up as a lollipop man. Kay told him he should become one for real now he is going to be unemployed.

Kay also made fun of Parkinson’s age by giving him an alarm button to wear around his neck.

Judi Dench sang a song which sent up Parkinson’s famously frosty interview with actress Meg Ryan and another where he was attacked by puppet Emu.

'Jazz' star Cullum, 28, played the classic track 'Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone' in tribute to the host. Parkinson helped launch the singer’s career by featuring him on his show when he was an unknown.

'Get Carter' star Michael Caine, who has been on the show more than any other actor, asked Parkinson: “You are out of work when we finish. Will you sign on?”

The star also used his slot to tell Parkinson he did not like his voice being impersonated.

He said: “They’ve got me on birthday cards saying: ’It’s your birthday today…not very many people know that’.

“On satellite navigation systems it’s got me saying: ’Take the second right and you will end up right in the s**t’.

“People ask me: ’Have you been doing sat navs?’ I say: ’No, I don’t do sat navs or birthday cards’. All they have to do is print: ’This is an impersonation’…and you can’t do anything.”

Connolly, who has been on the show more than any other person, said of reaching his 65th birthday: “The biggest terror I have of growing old is smelling of pee.”

Beckham told of his disappointment at England missing out on Euro 2008 and received a huge cheer from the studio audience.

Broadcaster David Attenborough revealed he hated only one animal, the rat.

He told Parkinson: “The reason rats don’t appeal to me is that the rat invades our living space. I was in India a while ago sitting on the loo and a rat appeared between my thighs.”

Parkinson, the son of a miner, is giving up his Saturday night talk show after more than four decades.

Guests over the years have included Muhammad Ali, Orson Welles, Tony Blair, Tom Cruise and Lauren Bacall.

He moved from the BBC to ITV in 2004 after the BBC tried to move his show to make way for Match Of The Day.

The final Parkinson show will not have any guests but will be a retrospective on ITV1.