Sad news this morning as it has been announced that TV presenter Michael Parkinson has died following a brief illness. He was 88.
The Yorkshire-born broadcaster had a lengthy career across seven decades, which saw him interview some of the biggest celebrities in the world - particularly on his long-running 'Parkinson' chat show, which ran on the BBC from 1971 to 1982, and again from 1998 to 2004.
His family released a statement that read: "After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family.
"The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve."
Parkinson was knighted for his services to broadcasting in 2008. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Mary - herself a journalist and presenter - and their three children.
The BBC's director general Tim Davie led the tributes, called Parkinson "truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed".
"Michael was the king of the chat show and he defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed," he said. "He interviewed the biggest stars of the 20th Century and did so in a way that enthralled the public. Michael was not only brilliant at asking questions, he was also a wonderful listener."
See below for some tributes on social media.
R.I.P.
