Michael Parkinson, UK chat show host and presenter, dies at 88

CNN
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Veteran British broadcaster Michael Parkinson has died at the age of 88, the BBC reported Thursday, citing a statement from his family.

“After a short illness, Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at his home last night in the company of his family,” the statement said, according to the BBC. His family asked for privacy.

Parkinson has interviewed many of the world’s most famous celebrities on his long-running programme, which began in 1971. It initially ran for 11 years, before returning in 1998 and ending in 2007.

Among the guests were Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Elton John, Nelson Mandela and Judi Dench.

The BBC’s managing director, Tim Davie, paid tribute to the “chat-show king”, who “defined the format for all the presenters and programs that followed”.

He interviewed the biggest stars of the 20th century and did it in a way that wowed the audience. “Michael was not only brilliant at asking questions, but he was also a great listener,” Davey added in a statement Thursday.

The interviewing style for Parkinson’s disease marked a change from traditional American chat shows, eschewing offices in favor of a more intimate setting.

“When you’re interviewing people you can have nothing stopping you, it takes you away from that intimacy that you’re hoping to develop,” Parkinson said in 2016 at a BAFTA event celebrating his career.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated soon.