Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Michael Parkinson, calling the late broadcaster a ‘good friend’ and ‘great guy’.
The ‘king of the chat show,’ who was fondly called ‘Parky’ by friends and fans, passed away surrounded by his wife Lady Mary and their children at his Berkshire home on August 16.
Paul, 81, took to Twitter on Saturday to discuss his friendship with Michael and recall how the TV legend appeared on one of Wings’ album covers.
Sharing a photo of them together he wrote: ‘I first met Michael Parkinson in Liverpool when he and his team came to see us at the Cavern Club.
‘He was a very likeable guy and we eventually did our first TV performances with Granada in Manchester, where Michael worked.
Touching: Paul McCartney has paid tribute to Michael Parkinson , calling the late broadcaster a ‘good friend’ and ‘great guy’
‘Through the years I got to know him more and more, and appeared on his chat show quite a few times.
‘He was a pleasure to talk to and we always had fun.’
Paul added: ‘He appeared on the front cover of ‘Band on the Run’ as one of the escaping convicts in the title song.
‘He was very knowledgeable about many subjects and a keen sports-lover.’
‘I will miss him personally, as a good friend. I send all my love to his family and friends. Cheers Michael, you’re a great guy okay! – Paul x’
It comes after other stars including David Attenborough and Elton John, paid an emotional tribute to Michael.
David, 97, said being interviewed by him ‘was like meeting a friend’ – and admitted his Yorkshire timbre was ‘very refreshing’ at a time when southern, upper class accents were common on the BBC.
He said: ‘He was extremely generous, he wanted you to shine and would always laugh at your jokes and give you an opportunity to make them sound funnier than in fact they were.
Tribute: Sharing a photo of them together he wrote: ‘I first met Michael Parkinson in Liverpool when he and his team came to see us at the Cavern Club’
Memories: Paul added: ‘He appeared on the front cover of ‘Band on the Run’ as one of the escaping convicts in the title song’
‘It was always friendly, it was always thorough, it was always intelligent, it was always a pleasure to do it and I think that came over no matter who his interviewee was’.
Elton said he ‘loved’ spending time with Parky, saying: ‘Michael Parkinson was a TV legend who was one of the greats.
‘I loved his company and his incredible knowledge of cricket and Barnsley Football Club. A real icon who brought out the very best in his guests.’
Michael Caine hailed him as ‘irreplaceable’, adding: ‘He was charming, always wanted to have a good laugh. He brought the best of everyone he met. Always looked forward to be interviewed by him.’
The down-to-earth Yorkshireman, the son of a coal miner, became one of the most famous names in Britain after his seminal interviews with Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Billy Connolly, Orson Welles and most of the world’s biggest stars in an extraordinary TV career spanning five decades.
There were also wildly comical – and uncomfortable interviews – including being attacked while speaking to Rod Hull and Emu as well as a prickly Meg Ryan in 20 years of more than 2,000 BBC interviews beamed into up to 17million homes on a Saturday night.
He said his greatest regret was never being able to interview Frank Sinatra – and recently revealed that Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was his most formidable interviewee.
Michael presented his programme Parkinson from 1971 to 1982 and again from 1998 to 2004 on the BBC. He then switched to ITV where his chat show ran from 2004 to 2007.
He was last seen in public in April. The cricket-mad journalist was frail as he celebrated his friend Dickie Bird’s 90th birthday bash at Headingley, Leeds. His last TV appearance was last November.
A statement from 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.’
He is survived by his wife Lady Mary Parkinson and their three children, Michael Jr, Nicholas and Andrew.
Michael, a coal miner’s son from Barnsley, and Lady Mary, from nearby Doncaster, met as young journalists and enjoyed a 64-year marriage.
