Sir Michael Parkinson’s chat show guests over the years – in pictures
Sir Michael Parkinson interviewed the biggest names in acting, music and sport on his prime-time chat show, which ran from 1971.
Here is a selection of the estimated 2,000 famous guests he encountered over four decades.
Boxer Muhammad Ali was one of Parkinson’s most famous guests, and is pictured sparring with the host on his second visit in 1974
Ali returned to the Parkinson studio in 1981
Footballer George Best was also interviewed multiple times, and the pair became good friends
Former Hollywood child star Shirley Temple was a guest in 1972
Comedy legend Peter Sellers brought a ukulele for his appearance in 1974
Parkinson with Morecambe and Wise in 1976
Another comedian, Sir Billy Connolly, was one of the best-loved and most frequent interviewees, pictured on Parkinson’s show One to One in 1987
Sir Billy had Sir Michael and Tom Cruise in stitches during an appearance on Parkinson in 2004
Sir David Attenborough was a guest in 2002
Sir Paul McCartney brought his guitar in 2005
David Bowie and Tom Hanks joined the host in 2002
In 2001, Victoria Beckham let slip that her nickname for husband David was “Goldenballs”
Comedian Peter Kay started out as Sir Michael’s warm-up man, before appearing as a guest
Sir Michael and George Clooney in 2003
With actor Sir Michael Caine in 2004
Parkinson was criticised for questioning Helen Mirren about her “equipment” and “physical attributes” in 1975 – she returned 31 years later when she starred in The Queen
Sir Michael with Victoria Wood in 2000
Will Smith got the host out of his chair
Dame Judi Dench appeared on the show in 2002
An up-and-coming MP named Boris Johnson was a guest in 2003
