Sir Michael Parkinson’s chat show guests over the years – in pictures
![](https://english.alsiasi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/130675780_parkinson_ali_2_bbc-780x470.jpg)
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.
![Muhammad Ali and Michael Parkinson on the Parkinson show on 7 December 1974](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2235/production/_130675780_parkinson_ali_2_bbc.jpg)
Boxer Muhammad Ali was one of Parkinson’s most famous guests, and is pictured sparring with the host on his second visit in 1974
![Michael Parkinson with his guest Muhammad Ali in 1981](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/CF69/production/_130679035_parkinson_ali_1_bbc.jpg)
Ali returned to the Parkinson studio in 1981
![Michael Parkinson with George Best in 1975](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/15643/production/_130691678_best_bbc_cut.jpg)
Footballer George Best was also interviewed multiple times, and the pair became good friends
![Presenter Michael Parkinson and actress Shirley Temple on the set of the television chat show 'Parkinson', June 1972.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5698/production/_130686122_shirleytemple_gettyimages-1061773834.jpg)
Former Hollywood child star Shirley Temple was a guest in 1972
![Comedian Peter Sellers (left) and presenter Michael Parkinson on the BBC television chat show 'Parkinson', November 9th 1974.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2F88/production/_130686121_petersellers_gettyimages-1164851679.jpg)
Comedy legend Peter Sellers brought a ukulele for his appearance in 1974
![Michael Parkinson with Morecambe and Wise in 1976](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/A5BD/production/_130692424_mw_gettyimages-1220001628.jpg)
Parkinson with Morecambe and Wise in 1976
![Sir Michael Parkinson with Sir Billy Connolly on Parkinson - One to One in 1987](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/BDEB/production/_130691684_connolly_shutterstock_editorial_813961kh.jpg)
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 Michael Parkinson with Sir Billy Connolly and Tom Cruise](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/747B/production/_130691892_connolly_cruise_shutterstock_editorial_715157mi.jpg)
Sir Billy had Sir Michael and Tom Cruise in stitches during an appearance on Parkinson in 2004
![Sir Michael Parkinson with Sir David Attenborough in 2002](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/48BB/production/_130691681_attenborough_bbc_2002_cut.jpg)
Sir David Attenborough was a guest in 2002
![Sir Michael Parkinson and Sir Paul McCartney in 2005](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E9AB/production/_130691895_mccartney_shutterstock_editorial_566023c.jpg)
Sir Paul McCartney brought his guitar in 2005
![David Bowie, Michael Parkinson and Tom Hanks in 2002](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/5269/production/_130679012_702817fb5e1f44eba15f942d91b7d34172248fe4.jpg)
David Bowie and Tom Hanks joined the host in 2002
![Sir Michael Parkinson with Victoria and David Beckham in 2001](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/E113/production/_130691675_beckhams_2001_bbc_cut.jpg)
In 2001, Victoria Beckham let slip that her nickname for husband David was “Goldenballs”
![Sir Michael Parkinson and Peter Kay in 2003](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/17D53/production/_130691679_kay_bbc_2003_cut.jpg)
Comedian Peter Kay started out as Sir Michael’s warm-up man, before appearing as a guest
![Michael Parkinson and George Clooney in 2003](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/163D9/production/_130679019_0888afb3e1e0dcaa0565b0a76f71a0bafb4c779c.jpg)
Sir Michael and George Clooney in 2003
![Michael Parkinson and actor Sir Michael Caine in 2004](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/0449/production/_130679010_9c13ccbcf0668a47eb4d7cac6a5f67fbce5dbc49.jpg)
With actor Sir Michael Caine in 2004
![Sir Michael Parkinson and Dame Helen Mirren in 2006](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/11705/production/_130692417_0547c8a1-1bb1-4840-8fd1-38558d2e3214.jpg)
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
![Michael Parkinson with Victoria Wood in 2000](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/A089/production/_130679014_a5c80069ff8b9f1c2087eba407ae682a6f71aa5d.jpg)
Sir Michael with Victoria Wood in 2000
![Sir Michael Parkinson and Will Smith dancing](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/C29B/production/_130691894_smith_shutterstock_editorial_803225fi.jpg)
Will Smith got the host out of his chair
![Sir Michael Parkinson and Dame Judi Dench in 2002](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/21AB/production/_130691680_dench_bbc_2002_cut.jpg)
Dame Judi Dench appeared on the show in 2002
![Sir Michael Parkinson with Boris Johnson in 2003](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/12F33/production/_130691677_boris_bbc_2003_cut.jpg)
An up-and-coming MP named Boris Johnson was a guest in 2003