The English journalist and television personality Michael Parkinson has called off his career as a TV chat show host of 36 years. His final series, on ITV1- seventh since leaving the BBC in 2004, will be broadcast this autumn.
Parkinson, the veteran broadcaster began his early career as a journalist and currently writes a weekly sports column in the Daily Telegraph. The 72-year-old still have plans to work in TV but intends to take next year off for writing his autobiography besides considering other television projects.
On quitting as a host from Saturday-night show he said:
After 25 years of doing my talk show, I have decided that this forthcoming series will be my last. My thanks go out to all those who have worked on the shows down the years and the viewers for their loyal support and occasional kind words.
Parkinson began his celebrity interviews on the BBC in 1971 and attracted the most eminent names of sport, stage and screen from Bing Crosby to contemporary stars such as Nicole Kidman. He is known as “Parky” by millions of his fans.
Despite his popularity, Parkinson’s audience has gradually declined since its 14 million peak in the 1970s. His Saturday night show ended in 1982 but again in 1998 he returned to Friday shows on the BBC.
The demand of younger faces on the prime -time television also seems to be the other reason for Parkinson’s stepping down, as a host from chat show. In recent years Parkinson has been outspoken in his criticism of his younger chat show rivals.
Source: BBC
