Sir Michael Parkinson’s chat show career reaches back more than 50 years and spanned interviews with some of the biggest stars in the world.
The legendary journalist became known for his TV interview series, Parkinson, which launched in 1971 and saw him interview hundreds of leading figures from different fields.
To celebrate his extraordinary career, here we pick 10 of his most memorable interview moments, a tricky job indeed.
Mick Jagger (1965)
Back when Jagger was just 22 years old he sat down Parkinson to talk about his career, and hilariously, he reckoned his band could keep going for another year. It’s a charming watch, knowing that over five decades later The Rolling Stones are still touring and making music and are inarguably one of the greatest bands of all time.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono (1971)
There was a long time when Yoko Ono was one of the most hated women on earth, with Beatles fans globally believing her to be the reason that their favourite band broke up. In this interview the duo addressed these accusations, with Lennon offering another reason for the vitriol against Ono: that people don’t like people who divorce. Ono is quiet as Lennon takes on the press.
Muhammad Ali (1971)
Parkinson interviewed Muhammed Ali four times, and each is an absolutely fascinating watch. Decades later when speaking about his many guests, Parkinson said that Ali was “the most unique of them all”. “He didn’t have a conversation, he shouted at you basically,” said Parkinson.
During the exhausting interviews Ali veers from being hilarious, to philosophical to combative. “You’re not as dumb as you look,” Ali said to Parkinson during one exchange.
“If you challenged him, that’s when the fun really started,” explained Parkinson on This Morning in 2016. In this 1971 exchange, Ali is bright and funny as he speaks about race, and whether he would like to be president.
James Stewart (1973)
James Stewart is one of the true Hollywood stars of old, whose lifetime seems to been part of another world. But in fact, the legendary actor only died in 1997, and was a mere 65 years old in this interview with Parkinson. There’s not a particular stand-out moment here, but the whole sit down is a treat from start to finish. Parkinson flexes his skills as an interviewer as he guides Stewart from topic to topic, making Jimmy feeling comfortable enough to share some wonderful stories from across his life and career.
Richard Burton (1974)
This exchange with Burton is also one for the books. He shares a fantastic story about Churchill coming to visit him after a show and asking to use the loo; he speaks about his alcoholism and his relationship with Elizabeth Taylor (and makes an illuminating joke about her belching); and he gives the audiences a few acting monologues. Burton is eloquent and thoughtful as he chain smokes, while Parkinson makes the perfect onscreen partner – if he’s remotely in awe of, or intimidated by Burton, he hides it well.
Helen Mirren (1975)
This interview with a 30-year-old Mirren has gone down in history for its sexism. Mirren did a good job of screening Parkinson’s questions about her “equipment” and her “physical attributes”, but the exchange makes for uncomfortable viewing. It’s appallingly sexist and Parkinson’s ease with his questions, along with the audience’s laughter, suggest that this was acceptable banter at the time – yikes.
Speaking about the interview later he said: “I was my most pompous self. By today’s standards, I plead guilty to being sexist. We both lost our tempers. I don’t enjoy watching it back, because I reveal an unattractive side.”
Rod Hull and Emu (1976)
Who would have guessed that comedian Rod Hull and his Emu puppet would become such a hit? But when the duo sat down with Parkinson, the Emu was on the offensive, first trying to bite Parkinson, before launching into a full-on attack. The audience are in hysterics as an on-edge Parkinson tries to keep the interview going despite the bird’s beak literally gripping his leg at points. “He looks like someone I interviewed last week,” Parkinson joked.
Miss Piggy (1978)
Despite having interviewed hundreds of actors, politicians, sportsmen and musicians over his career, this interview with Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog is a standout. It’s because the interview enters a kind of strange alternative reality, where Miss Piggy starts hitting on Parkinson. Sticking with one of his favourite lines of questioning, he asks, “What’s it like being a sex symbol?” as Miss Piggy squeaks, “It’s a deep responsibility to be a taste-setter in fashion, to be a sex symbol and to be a pig superstar.” She then brings her face close to Parkinson’s and tells him he has bedroom eyes. Poor old Kermit.
Posh & Becks (2001)
Back in the Noughties, when David and Victoria Beckham were still Posh and Becks, the celebrity couple gave a series of hilarious interviews. There was the very memorable 2001 comic relief interview with Ali G, and then this Parkinson sit down. Victoria is charismatic as ever as she talks about people’s preconceptions about her. The highlight of the interview, however, is when she gave the world an insight into her private life with David, saying that she called England’s golden boot, golden balls. “That’s one of those things I shouldn’t have said,’’ she laughs.
Meg Ryan (2003)
Parkinson’s least deftly handled interview was in 2003 with Meg Ryan, who was promoting the psychological thriller In the Cut. An uncomfortable Ryan answered Parkinson’s questions with one-word answers, which led the interviewer to say “You’re wary of me, you’re wary of the interview. You don’t like being interviewed, I can see it in the way you sit, the way you are.” Ryan handled the accusation with aplomb, joking that if she was Parkinson she’d wrap the interview up, but the scene makes for excruciating viewing.
In a 2021 Radio Times interview Parkinson said he wished he’d handled the situation differently. “I wish I hadn’t lost my temper with Meg Ryan. I wish I’d dealt with it in a more courteous manner,” he said. “I was quite obviously angry with her and it’s not my business to be angry towards the guests. I came across as kind of pompous and I could have done better.”
