Sir Michael Parkinson revealed that his on-screen persona was a “disguise” in his final ever TV interview with the BBC.
On Thursday (August 17) it was announced that the legendary broadcaster and chat show host had died at the age of 88.
A statement from is family told the BBC: “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family.
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In his final TV interview with the BBC last November, Sir Michael revealed that he didn’t recognise who he was when watching old clips from his celebrated Parkinson talk show.
“The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve.”
When BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty asked him if he ever got sick of watching old clips from his programme, he replied: “Absolutely.”
“I don’t recognise the person,” he said. “It’s a disguise. This is a disguise. You’re not yourself at all – it changes you, no matter how considerate you might be with the problems of being famous. It changes you, and it’s bound to.”
(Image: PA)
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Naga asked him how it changes you, he explained: “Just people’s reaction to you, and it makes you sometimes a worse person than you are.”
The final episode of Parkinson, which aired in November 2007, brought together a whole host of legends, including David Beckham, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Michael Caine and comedian Peter Kay.
At the end of the show, an emotional Parkinson said: “Over the years it has been a privilege to meet some of the most intelligent and interesting people. It has always been a great joy and I shall miss it.”
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Over the years, he met many other icons, such as Muhammad Ali, Sir Paul McCartney, Madonna and Tom Cruse.
The first ever episode of Parkinson aired on June 19, 1971 and was initially viewed as a 10-week filler programme, but it went on to record 650 episodes and host over 2,000 guests.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
