Michael Parkinson has been remembered as being "beyond region or class" and "irreplaceable" by close friends and contemporaries including broadcasters David Attenborough and Pat Kenny.
The celebrated chat show host died peacefully at home at the age of 88 "after a brief illness" and "in the company of his family" on Wednesday night.
Known as Parky, he interviewed some of Hollywood's biggest names throughout his illustrious career and tributes from across the world of sport and entertainment have praised him for not only his interviewing skills, but as someone who was "irreplaceable" and "charming".
David Attenborough, 97, remembered Parkinson as a "proud Yorkshireman", adding that "he was beyond region or class – he was himself".
"He was also an ideal interviewer for asking interesting and often important questions because he genuinely wanted to know the answer."
Attenborough added: "He also had a great sense of humour and didn’t take himself too seriously."
Irish broadcaster Pat Kenny also paid tribute to Parkinson. Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1, Kenny said: "I admired Michael enormously. I saw the variety and the scope of the interviews that he'd lined up every week and I found the ability to change gear – to go from pathos to laughter to serious political interviews. That was a key to Michael.
"But Michael was always Michael, if he was doing the prime minister or if he was doing a comedian like Roy Hudd, Michael still remain Michael throughout it all: He didn’t have one face for the politicians and one for the comedians."
Kenny, who interviewed the TV star on The Late Late Show in 2008, said guests felt "very comfortable" with Parkinson.
"Michael’s great skill was to create a sense of intimacy – in a rather difficult environment – to make people feel at home."
I was standing with the guests, waiting for the show to start. Michael arrived, chatted away to us, not a nerve in sight, when the band starting playing the theme tune. Michael paused, smiled and said "They're playing my tune" and walked straight out and started the show. Lovely.
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) August 17, 2023
Comedian Dara O Briain recalled Sir Michael Parkinson doing "the coolest thing I ever saw pre-show" after the interviewer's death.
He tweeted: "I had the privilege of doing the Michael Parkinson show 3 times and it the most I ever felt like I was in "proper showbiz".
"He was a consummate pro on-screen, and generous and encouraging off-screen. He also did the coolest thing I ever saw pre-show: I was standing with the guests, waiting for the show to start.
"Michael arrived, chatted away to us, not a nerve in sight, when the band starting playing the theme tune. Michael paused, smiled and said 'They’re playing my tune’ and walked straight out and started the show. Lovely."
Elton John said he "loved" Sir Michael Parkinson's company as he paid tribute to the late broadcaster on Instagram.
The 76-year-old Rocketman singer wrote: "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."
Eamonn Holmes said that knowing "on and off screen" Sir Michael Parkinson was a "privilege".
He wrote on Twitter, now known as X: "Parky. King of The Chat Show Hosts. A privilege to know him on and off screen and to learn from him.
"They don't make them like that anymore. Rip Sir Michael Parkinson."
Parky . King of The Chat Show Hosts . A privilege to know him on and off screen and to learn from him . They don't make them like that anymore. Rip Sir Michael Parkinson 😔🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/viLkstKBBZ
— Eamonn Holmes OBE (@EamonnHolmes) August 17, 2023
Fellow broadcasters Gary Lineker and Dan Walker have described Sir Michael Parkinson as "truly brilliant" and "a TV titan" as they paid tribute.
Former footballer Lineker tweeted: "Saddened to hear that Michael Parkinson has died. A truly brilliant broadcaster and wonderful interviewer.
"He was very much part of Saturday nights growing up: Parkinson then Match Of The Day. RIP Parky."
TV presenter Walker posted: "Michael Parkinson was a TV titan. It was always a pleasure to talk to him, on & off camera, about cricket, football, politics & TV.
"He was full of advice, picked up over his remarkable career, & always brought the best out in others.
"A proper gent who will be missed be many."
Comedian and actor Matt Lucas has described Sir Michael Parkinson as a "titan of television" following his death.
The 49-year-old tweeted: "Sir Michael Parkinson was a titan of television, the ultimate chat show host.
"We'll never forget his brilliant interviews with Muhammad Ali, Dame Edna, Billy Connolly and, of course, 'that bloody emu’."
Former international cricket umpire and Yorkshire batter Dickie Bird, 90, spoke of his "dear friend" saying, "there will never be another Parky".
The pair opened the batting for Barnsley Cricket Club together in their youth and remained friends: "He was so close to me. We were friends since we were youngsters, his father and my father worked down the mines together in Barnsley and we have been friends all of our lives.
"His friendship meant more to me than anything else. If I wanted any advice I would ring Parky up. He helped me in so many, many ways.
"There will never be anyone better than him in your lifetime, my lifetime or anyone else’s lifetime."
Comedian Stephen Fry has said being interviewed by Parkinson was "impossibly thrilling".
On Instagram, Fry wrote: "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.
"For one of the shows I was on with Robin Williams, a genius of unimaginable comic speed and brilliance. Now they're both gone.
"One should get used to the parade of people constantly falling off the edge, but frankly one doesn’t. So long #parky."
The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie said that Sir Michael was "the king of the chat show" and "defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed."
Fellow TV presenter Angela Rippon said: "He was a pal, a colleague, and the most outstanding interviewer of his generation. He listened to what his guests said. Had a conversation with them rather than mechanically going through a list of questions or haranguing them.
Source: Press Association
