Sir Michael Parkinson died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones

ok.co.uk:

Celebrated chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson has died peacefully at home at the age of 88 surrounded by loved ones, his family has said.The TV star host interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest names throughout his illustrious career.

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.” The director-general of the BBC paid tribute to Sir Michael, saying in a statement: “Michael was the king of the chat show, and he defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed.

From Cheryl to Gemma Collins - All the celebs who failed or never took their A-levels View gallery “He interviewed the biggest stars of the 20th century and did so in a way that enthralled the public. "Michael was not only brilliant at asking questions, he was also a wonderful listener. “Michael was truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed.” Sir Michael became a familiar face on both the BBC and ITV because of his intimate celebrity interviews, most notably on the BBC show Parkinson.

Parkinson first aired on the BBC on June 19 1971, and enjoyed a successful run until 1982. In 1998, the chat show was revived on the BBC and proved an instant hit.