Parkinson

Michael Parkinson hosted his eponymous British chat show across two main stints, running from 1971 to 1982 and later from 1998 to 2007. Over these decades, he conducted over 2,000 long-form interviews. He is widely regarded by the British public as the master of the television conversational interview.

Parkinson is infamous for his 1975 interview with actor Rod Hull and his chaotic puppet Emu, which physically attacked the host on live television. He also conducted highly candid, historic interviews with global icons like Muhammad Ali and Dame Helen Mirren. These unscripted moments defined the relaxed but penetrating style of his program.

The original, most iconic run of the 'Parkinson' show aired on BBC One from 1971 until 1982. The show was later revived in 1998, where it aired on BBC One for several years before moving to ITV1 in 2004 for its final seasons. The format remained largely consistent across both major networks.

Many of the classic episodes of Parkinson were broadcast live or recorded 'as live' with minimal editing. This allowed for unscripted, candid moments to unfold naturally with major international stars. The raw, live format was a major factor in the show's reputation for catching celebrities off guard.