The television chat show, adapted from a format imported from America, was made his own by Michael Parkinson. Afterwards, the easy chair was taken over by Terry Wogan before "Parky" had a final stint between 1998 and 2007. The men shared the appearance of being classless, possessing discernible but not broad accents. They also had the benefit of good early training in the media, so that they knew that good preparation was vital to a successful interview. The result was a series of revealing interviews with many stars from different fields (see other obituaries for a list). The repository continues to be mined for gems by radio and TV documentaries. Moreover, the only bias which Parkinson showed was towards the golden age of Hollywood, something which came to the fore when he briefly replaced Barry Norman on BBC's Film 86.
Parkinson was not always so unbiased in public. His writing, initially for the Guardian before a longer stint on the Sunday Times revealed a childhood passion for Barnsley FC and for its uncompromising defender Skinner Normanton. He also disapproved of post-war developments in football, abandoning the W formation. The wingless wonders of Alf Ramsey, the overlapping full-back system and the presence in the England team of Roger Hunt were also in his line of fire. He inclined politically to the Conservatives (but recent Tory governments attracted his ire for their ignorance of the north of England). He was a passionate Yorkshireman and friendships formed there remained firm. But he put prejudice behind him when he engaged in the programme which was the pinnacle of his career.
Will there be another chat show on British network television or even as a leading podcast? Only if and when there is another Wogan or Parkinson.
[Updated from Gillian Reynolds' recollections in the i on Saturday.]
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