The English have everything in common with the Americans except the language (Oscar Wilde). Two hosts and their guests, brought together by satellite, do their best to prove him wrong. Music by THE HARRY STONEHAM FIVE in London and THE BOB ROSENGARTEN ORCHESTRA in New York
Michael Parkinson interviews David Niven.
Spike Milligan , Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers plus RAY ELLINGTON AND HIS QUARTET join Michael Parkinson for a special edition of his show.
This week Michael Parkinson talks to his special guests Raquel Welch, Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise
In a programme specially recorded for Christmas week Michael Parkinson talks to Bing Crosby "It's been great to appear on British television for all the friends I've had here for so many years. I've never seen a following as loyal as they are and I'm grateful for it!"
Michael Parkinson is joined by poet John Betjeman, actor and raconteur Kenneth Williams and actress Maggie Smith. The show includes a heated exchange between Williams and the host over the trade union movement and a sweeter moment when the two actors recite the poet's work Death in Leamington
Tonight Michael Parkinson talks to the man whose 40-year career in films has made him one of the greatest and most popular names in the business - James Stewart.
The actor, writer and director known for his work on films including Citizen Kane, The Third Man and Touch of Evil. But he doesn't like to talk about them. Welles famously insisted that Parkinson dispose of his list of questions beforehand, reassuring him, "We'll talk". And they did. Fascinating stuff.
Michael Parkinson talks to comic actor Michael Crawford and American entertainer Liberace, who plays a medley of Christmas songs.
First aired on BBC2. Michael Parkinson and Dick Cavett step into the ring for a special show recorded in New York to face Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali who meet in a television studio for the first time ever for a verbal battle before they meet again next week in the ring at Madison Square Garden, where Ali seeks vengeance against the first man to beat him in what was called ' The Fight of the Century.'
Join Michael Parkinson in a curtain-raiser to his new series as he shows some of the best of the best of his previous guests.
Michael Parkinson looks back at a memorable interview with the talented and troubled Welsh actor Richard Burton. Back in 1974, the film star was battling against alcoholism, consuming "up to three bottles of hard liquor a day", and had spent six weeks in a Swiss clinic for treatment prior to the interview - which took place in the morning before the pubs opened, although in the event he had to be given a whiskey to calm his nerves. Unable to round up an audience so early in the day, BBC chefs and kitchen staff were invited to sit in the audience, which gave Burton quite a surprise when met with a crowd of people in white coats; "Christ, I thought I was back at the bloody clinic". He said he had been on the edge of a "terrible precipice", but had survived and had decided to regain control of his life. He didn't. He died of a brain haemorrhage in 1984, aged 59.
Billy Connolly's first appearance
In this special show Michael looks back at some of the highlights from his last 26 programmes.
The first of a new series of weekly programmes with Michael Parkinson. Tonight a special show featuring Bing Crosby who talks about his 50 years in showbusiness, and sings some favourite songs
The interview was recorded in 1974 but only transmitted, in shortened form, because of the ‘three day week’ and the restriction on broadcasting hours at the time. Some six months later Dr Bronowski died. This version is the first time that interview was shown in its entirety and, as Michael Parkinson remarks, “there are many reasons for doing so. One is that what he has to say has as much relevance now as then, another that I believe it to be the testament of a rare human being and also because, although I haven’t got a favourite interview, I shall forever remember this meeting”.
In a rare interview, the legendary dancer, actor and singer, talks about his long career in show-business and shows some favourite film sequences.
Actor Peter O'Toole and film director Roger Vadim are two of the guests on tonight's programme with Michael Parkinson.
Michael Parkinson interviews zoologist Desmond Morris, British sex symbol Diana Dors and comic actor Kenneth Williams
On the night after Crosby died, Parkinson introduces an edited showing of his 1975 interview with the singer
Michael Parkinson presents an exclusive interview with Perry Como who talks about his career in show business and sings some of his favourite songs.
Michael Parkinson plays host to Sir Alec Guinness who, in his first-ever television interview, talks about his distinguished career on stage and screen illustrated by moments from some of his most memorable films.
Michael Parkinson presents a special Bank Holiday entertainment featuring the comedy of ' Big Yin' Billy Connolly making a return appearance to the show which brought him national fame and the amazing dexterity of Borra, the legendary 'King of the Pickpockets'
Arthur Askey, Les Dawson, Lauri Lupino Lane, Little & Large, Pat Kirkwood, Roy Barraclough, George Truzzi
A special programme to celebrate the 300th edition of Parkinson, in which Michael Parkinson presents the many talents of Harry Stoneham, the show's popular musical director. with The Harry Stoneham Big Band featuring DICK ABEL , PETE HUGHES CHRIS KARAN , PETE MORGAN and special guests Adelaide Hall George Melly, Wall Street Crash
Michael Parkinson looks back at his 1972 interview with comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, which sees the pair speaking about their pasts, their heroes and their friendship.
Michael Parkinson introduces a recut of two interviews he did with Frankie Howerd during the Parkinson show series and a Christmas interview with Tommy Cooper. Frankie Howerd wanted everything scripted, resulting in an unprompted and unrehearsed interview whilst Tommy Cooper managed to run rings around a delighted Parkinson. Includes clips from Up Pompeii, The Main Attraction and The Bob Monkhouse Show.
In a selection of highlights from Sir Peter Ustinov's appearances on his show, Michael Parkinson looks back at a multitalented and multilingual writer, director, actor, raconteur, Oscar winner and tireless ambassador for Unicef. The interviews offer a poignant reminder of Ustinov's intelligence and ability to entertain.
Michael Parkinson searches the archives and revisits four outstanding interviews with the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
Eleven years, 361 shows-374 hours of television, 1,047 guests. Michael Parkinson presents a special programme which looks back at more than a decade of Britain's longest-running talk show. Among the many featured guests are: Larry Adler, Muhammad Ali, Fred Astaire, Jack Benny, Dr Jacob Bronowski, George Burns, James Cagney. Bing Crosby Dame Edith Evans Stephane Grappelli Jim Henson's Muppets, Bob Hope, Rod Hull and Emu, Shirley Maclaine, Bette Midler, Yehudi Menuhin, David Niven, Pat O'Brien, Itzhak Perlman, Peter Sellers, Sir Harold Wilson, Mike Yarwood and many others with a special musical contribution from Harry Stoneham.
On 16 June 1971, Michael Parkinson walked down those famous stairs for the first time and introduced the first ever Parkinson show. The guests were celebrity snapper Ray Bellasario and comedy actor Terry-Thomas. Seen as a temporary ten-week filler programme, it went on to record over 650 episodes featuring interviews with over 2,000 guests and was voted by the BFI one of the top ten UK television programmes of all time. This programme tells the full story of the humble beginnings of the show and how it rose to become an award-winning Saturday night staple, a source of water-cooler moments before that phrase had even been thought of. It tells the story of how Michael left Fleet Street and stumbled into television at Granada, where he made his first attempt at celebrity interviewing in an encounter with Mick Jagger. Poached by the BBC, he then found himself hosting the show that would make his name, and he recounts how the success of the show was secured by convincing Orson Welles to appear, as well as how the first series was wiped, losing interviews with John Lennon and Yoko Ono amongst others. It was a time when the likes of Jimmy Cagney, Fred Astaire, Lauren Bacall and Ingrid Bergman could be interviewed in depth for the first time, though the show developed into something more than just a celebrity gabfest. Michael reveals some tricks of the interview trade and remembers some of his favourite moments, including his encounters with Muhammad Ali and Billy Connolly, as well as some less successful meetings with Meg Ryan and Helen Mirren. He also explains his decision to leave the interview game in 2008
Michael Parkinson looks back at his meetings with Hollywood's leading ladies, including Bette Davis, Raquel Welch, Bette Midler, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman and Miss Piggy.
Michael Parkinson introduces a selection of the funniest moments from his programme in recent years, featuring among others: Dave Allen, Rowan Atkinson, Cannon and Ball Michael Bentine, Billy Connolly, Ken Dodd, Bob Hope, Frankie Howerd, Tom Lehrer, Arthur Marshall, Spike Milligan, Sir Harry Secombe, Jimmy Tarbuck, Tommy Trinder, Kenneth Williams
