End of an era as Parky calls it a day

TV veteran Michael Parkinson is to retire as a chat show host after three decades, he announced yesterday.

His final ITV1 series will be broadcast this autumn.

Parkinson joined the channel in 2004 after defecting from the BBC.

The 72-year-old said he does not plan to quit TV altogether.

“After three enjoyable and productive years at ITV, and after 25 years of doing my talk show, I have decided that this forthcoming series will be my last,” he announced.

“I’m going to take next year off to write my autobiography and consider other television projects.

“My thanks go out to all those who have worked on the shows down the years and the viewers for their loyal support and occasional kind words.”

Parkinson’s eponymous chat show began on BBC1 in 1971.

He hosted it on and off until 2004, when he quit the corporation in a row over scheduling.

BBC bosses had tried to move the Saturday night show to make way for Match Of The Day, after winning back the rights to show Premiership highlights.

The presenter responded by switching to ITV.

Parkinson executive producer Mark Wells said: “This is the end of an era.

“Michael Parkinson is one of the giants of broadcasting. His skills as a talk show host are quite simply the best in the world.

“The Parkinson show has been a part of the British Saturday night for so long, it’s hard to imagine life without it.”

Parkinson started out as a local newspaper journalist and worked as a TV news reporter before moving into entertainment.

His BBC chat show was required viewing throughout the 1970s and featured memorable interviews with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Richard Burton and George Best.

In addition, Parkinson has presented TV-am, Give Us A Clue and Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.

He will continue to host a Sunday lunchtime show on Radio 2.

The last series of Parkinson on ITV1 will return in the autumn for a 12-week run.

Paul Jackson, ITV’s director of entertainment and comedy, said of the TV star:

“His name is synonymous throughout the English-speaking world as a benchmark for integrity and quality in the talk show genre.

“We are delighted to be talking to Michael about new projects for 2008 and we will be working with him and his team to ensure that this last series sends him off in the style which he so richly deserves.”

Stars in his eyes: The most memorable guests

Muhammad Ali (1971, 1974, 1975, 1981)

“If people ask me who was the most remarkable man I ever met, I answer without hesitation: Muhammad Ali,” said Parkinson.

“I interviewed him four times — I lost on every occasion.”

Their verbal sparring sessions provided some of the show’s most memorable encounters and boosted ratings by millions each time.

“I’m not going to argue with you,” Parkinson told him during one animated discussion.

“You’re not as dumb as you look,” Ali replied.

Billy Connolly (1975)

Connolly was an unknown making a living on the Scottish club circuit when Parkinson gave him his big break.

Connolly had the audience in stitches with a string of gags and the TV appearance made him an overnight star.

Rod Hull and Emu (1977)

Parkinson has often joked that his career will always be remembered for “that bloody bird”. The puppet famously attacked Parky on the chat show sofa and wrestled him to the ground.

Sir Paul McCartney (1999)

Macca fulfilled a 25-year-old promise when he appeared on Parkinson.

Landing the interview was a coup — it was the former Beatle’s first major TV appearance since the death of his wife Linda the previous year.