Sir Michael Parkinson said emotional farewell to lifelong pal Dickie Bird hours before he died aged 88
CHAT legend Sir Michael Parkinson said an emotional farewell to lifelong pal Dickie Bird hours before he died aged 88.
The hugely popular star and ex-cricket umpire Dickie shared memories in one of their regular phone calls.
But that evening Parky passed following a brief illness.
Dickie, 90, revealed: “I just can’t believe it. I only spoke to him on Wednesday. He was a true friend.
“We talked about some of the moments of the happy times we spent together.
“And I think he knew that he was coming to the end . . . we said our goodbyes.”
Dickie, who was seen fighting back tears on Sky TV, also told Times Radio: “Our fathers worked down the coalmines.
“Parky’s dad would have been very proud of his son. He was the best.
“There will never be another like him. He never lost his love for cricket. It was his first love.”
Parky’s death was announced in a statement this morning which said: “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family.”
Parky was married to Mary, 87, for 64 years and the couple shared three sons.
He interviewed the world’s biggest names on his self-titled show from 1971 — once estimating his total guests at 2,000.
The programme was the highlight of Saturday nights.
And today stars from screen, sport and politics paid tribute to the broadcaster whose TV career spanned seven decades.
An opening batsman in his youth, Parky once kept England star Sir Geoffrey Boycott out of his hometown Barnsley cricket team.
He had trials for Yorkshire and while he never cracked the first team like his two pals, the trio remained friends for life.
Sir Geoffrey, 82, remembered Parky as the “soul of Yorkshire”.
He said: “He was the best chat host because he listened to people.
“He never lost his roots. Michael was Yorkshire in every way.
“He understood how we think, how we talk. He was just a lovely man. He would laugh about himself with the emu.
“He never lost his humour, his warmth, his Yorkshire in him that made him great.”
One of Parky’s most memorable shows was his 1976 interview with comic Rod Hull and his pugnacious puppet Emu.
Emu repeatedly pecked at Parky after he asked Rod: “Why is it so aggressive?”, leaving the chat host on the floor and missing a shoe.
Parky later joked his career would always be remembered for “that bloody bird”.
Millions watched his four punchy chats with boxing champ Muhammad Ali, and Parky later described him as the most extraordinary person he had ever met.
Sir David Attenborough was interviewed by Parky many times and said today: “With Michael, it was always friendly, always thorough, always intelligent, always a pleasure to do it, and I think that came over no matter who his interviewee was.”
Acting great Michael Caine added: “Michael Parkinson was irreplaceable, he was charming, always wanted to have a good laugh.
“He brought the best of everyone he met. Always looked forward to be interviewed by him.”
The chats didn’t always go well. In 1975 Parky suggested to Dame Helen Mirren, then 30, her “equipment” hindered her being recognised as a serious actress — leading to a frosty interview.
In 2003 US actress Meg Ryan took offence at questions about her new film and gave one-word answers.
When a desperate Parky asked what she’d do if giving the interview, she snapped: “Wrap it up.”
He later called her “an unhappy woman”, while Ryan called him a “nut” and said he had spoken to her “like a disapproving dad”.
Parky had faced health battles in recent years. In 2013 he revealed he had prostate cancer, but said he got the all-clear from doctors two years later.
Five years ago he had to learn to walk again following back surgery.
News of his death earlier today triggered an outpouring of affection.
Writer Stephen Fry said: “Loved that man.
“Having grown up watching him interview greats, my first appearance was impossibly thrilling for me.
“The genius of Parky was that unlike most people he was always 100 per cent himself.”
Match of the Day’s Gary Lineker said: “A truly brilliant broadcaster and wonderful interviewer.
“He was very much part of Saturday nights growing up: Parkinson then Match of the Day. RIP Parky.”
Superstar Sir Elton John said: “Michael Parkinson was a TV legend who was one of the greats.”
TalkTV presenter Piers Morgan said: “Wonderful character, great writer, sublimely talented broadcaster, and hilarious lunch partner. Loved him.”
Parky was born in 1935 in the pit village of Cudworth, South Yorks.
He left school with two O-levels and got a job collating sports results on his local newspaper.
He did a two-year military stint becoming the British Army’s youngest captain at the age of 20.
Parky returned to journalism then switched to television as a current affairs presenter and reporter for Granada in the 1960s.
US jazz singer Marion Montgomery was the first guest in 1971.
The show initially ran for 11 years and in 1998 Parky returned to the BBC for another run.
The show switched to ITV from 2004-7 and he was knighted the following year.
In a 2004 chat with Aussie comic Barry Humphries, dressed as his character Dame Edna Everage, one saucy comment made Parky laugh so much he had to cut to an ad break.
In all he filmed 650 episodes over 32 years, regularly pulling in nine million viewers.
Of his guests, Parky said Scots comedian Sir Billy Connolly was the funniest, Tommy Cooper “either the brightest or silliest” and David Beckham and George Clooney “the best-looking”.
Connolly found overnight fame when a taxi driver gave Parky a tape of one of his stand-up shows and persuaded him to have Billy as a guest.
He went on to appear 15 times, including the last episode.
Speaking of his style, Parky once said: “It doesn’t really matter how famous the interviewee is because when you are talking to them you have to treat them as though they were simply the person next door.
“You had to ask very simple questions about what they do; people overcomplicate it but there’s not much more to it than that.
“My timing was good in that the people who were available to be interviewed then were great, and had led interesting lives.”
Despite his long-term TV career, Parky remained a proud newspaperman and in 2014 guest-edited the Barnsley Chronicle.
Editor Andrew Harrod said: “He was every bit as nice and helpful and willing as you could possibly ask in a man.”
Today a minute’s silence was held by Yorkshire County Cricket Club before their one-day match against Hampshire.
Managing director of cricket Darren Gough said: “He was a Barnsley boy, like myself, and it was an absolute pleasure to know him and his family. We are all devastated here at Yorkshire.”
A club statement added: “Everyone at Yorkshire Cricket is saddened to learn of the passing of Sir Michael Parkinson.
“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Sir Michael’s family and friends.”
And England’s Barmy Army official Twitter account posted: “RIP Sir Michael Parkinson, a firm lover of cricket.”
It included a quote from the great man which read: “At its best, cricket is the most wonderful entertainment in the world.”
Parky was also a Barnsley Football Club fan after going to his first match aged five.
The League One side said they were deeply saddened and added: “The town has lost one of its favourite sons.”
Singer Elaine Paige, who performed on Parky’s show, said: “He was a legendary interviewer who will be remembered as the best of his profession. We will never see his like again. RIP Michael.”
TV presenter Eamonn Holmes said: “A privilege to know him on and off screen and to learn from him. They don’t make them like that any more.”
Comic Matt Lucas added: “Sir Michael Parkinson was a titan of television, the ultimate chat show host.
“We’ll never forget his brilliant interviews with Muhammad Ali, Dame Edna, Billy Connolly and, of course, ‘That bloody Emu’.”
A golden memory
DAVID Beckham’s Goldenballs nickname emerged in a 2001 show when wife Victoria let slip it was what she called him.
Parky laughed: “Goldenballs, that’s a good one.”
Today Becks shared a picture of the couple with him and wrote: “We say goodbye to the best.
“I was so lucky to not just be interviewed by Michael but to spend precious time talking about football and family, our 2 passions.
Plus the Goldenballs moment! Sending love to Mary and the family.”