Broadcasting icon Sir Michael Parkinson made a rare public appearance to celebrate his friend and ex-cricket umpire, Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird’s 90th birthday.
Wearing a navy blue suit with a tartan pattern over a light blue shirt, the sharply dressed 88-year-old looked thrilled to ribbons to have made it to the event as he exchanged stories with his close pals at Leeds’ Headingley Stadium.
Parkinson and Bird have enjoyed an almost three-quarter century worth of friendship, having met on the cricket pitch back in the 1950s.
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Before embarking on a successful career in the world of television, in which he hosted his own show for 36 years, Sir Michael showcased his talents on the field as part of Barnsley Cricket Club.
After presenting his final Parkinson in 2007, the presenter returned in 2012 for two series of Parkinson: Masterclass on Sky Arts.
In 2022, he released a book entitled, My Life in Sport: Memories, Moments and Declarations, in which, he discussed his favourite interviewees all the way down to his worst, including the shamed Prince Andrew.
He admitted: “I did have to chat to him once, for a charity, and it was not a success – at all.”
At the peaks of his powers, he talked with legends like Muhammad Ali, Billy Connolly, and of course, Peter Kay, who regularly left his audiences in fits of laughter.
Parkinson added: “I had the best of it, in terms of the guests I could choose from…”
And during an appearance on This Morning, he revealed what it was like to speak to footballing titan, George Best.
He told Susanna Reid: “It takes some doing to actually be frank in an interview, to ask the questions properly and not be delicate around certain subjects.
“You’re aware of that as the interviewer. It’s a fascinating subject. There’s lots of other things that come into it.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
