Inside Michael Parkinson’s health battles from prostate cancer diagnosis to learning how to walk again
AFTER decades in the spotlight, TV legend Michael Parkinson spent his final years battling several health issues in private.
The chat show king died last night at age 88 – after battling prostate cancer and fighting through major spinal operations.
He overcame a battle with cancer back in 2013.
At the time of his diagnosis, he said it had come as a “great shock,” but he was expected to make a “full recovery”.
He added: “The cancer specialist said: ‘I will assure you, you will not die of this. I am concerned about it, of course, but I am not frightened of it.”
After fighting the cancer for two years, he was given the all clear in 2015.
In 2017, he explained: “I’ve been ill for the last five years.
“I’ve overcome prostate cancer, but it’s been a difficult period of my life.
“And my spinal operation has involved a long and unpleasant recovery.”
Sir Michael needed the surgery to repair two ruptured disks in his spine.
After learning how to walk again, Michael said was still forced to overcome some hurdles.
He continued: “I’m still not too great on my feet but I can stagger around and do my work and there is nothing wrong with the mind.”
Michael was known for his incredible celebrity interviews during his time as the host of his own popular talk show on the BBC.
His plain-speaking style helped garner a legion of fans and has been emulated by a string of famous interviewers in his wake.
In recent years, Sir Michael preferred to keep away from the limelight and only made a few appearances in public.
He was seen celebrating cricket umpire Dickie Bird’s 90th birthday party in April 2023.
Sir Michael also appeared on Good Morning Britain in November 2022, where he discussed the art of interviewing.
Reflecting previously on his chat show, he said: “I had the best of it, in terms of the guests I could choose from…
“The older ones and the newer ones, and also the kind of television that was being shown in those days. It was bliss.”
A statement from Sir Michael’s family said: “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.”
Sir Michael lived in Berkshire with wife Mary, who he married in August 1959 and had three children with.