David Attenborough and Stephen Fry pay tribute to Michael Parkinson
Sir David Attenborough and Stephen Fry have paid tribute to late chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson following his death.
The long-time Parkinson host passed away on Wednesday night at the age of 88.
Hours after his death was announced on Thursday morning, Attenborough appeared on BBC Radio 4's The World at One and described his fellow broadcaster as "the best interviewer in the business".
"(He was) extremely professional, you knew he would know all the background and you didn't have to fill in anything. You knew that he would do his homework and that he would ask questions that didn't occur to you," he continued. "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."
On Instagram, Fry shared a throwback photo of himself on Parkinson alongside Robin Williams and lamented that they were "both gone".
"Having grown up watching him interview greats, my first appearance was impossibly thrilling for me," he reminisced. "The genius of Parky was that unlike most people (and most of his guests, me included) he was always 100% himself. On camera and off. 'Authentic' is the word I suppose."
Meanwhile, actress/singer Elaine Paige wrote on Twitter/X, "Have known him for many years, sang on his TV chat show & attended many events with him. A legendary interviewer that will be remembered as the best of his profession. We will never see his like again."
Additionally, Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain called Parkinson "a consummate pro on-screen, and generous and encouraging off-screen" and Matt Lucas described him as "a titan of television".
In honour of Parkinson's death, the Parkinson at 50 documentary will be broadcast again on BBC One at 9pm.
