Sir Michael Parkinson has died

I don’t think you appreciate ramblingrose that it is a good interviewer who makes for a good or entertaining or perceptive interview.
Parkinson was that. A journalist to his teeth he was the consummate professional, very much more than a “chat show host”
Not as intrusive as John Freeman of Face to Face, or excoriating as Paxo in his heyday, but equally gifted at guiding the conversation so that we, the viewers, saw into the essence of his subject.
His programmes provided some wonderful laughs too.
Who could forget that attack by Emu? (Parky looked close to losing it, and certainly earned his fee that night)
Or this wonderful performance by Kenneth Williams of “Ma Crepe Suzette”

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6MbZjzIg5w8

Well Foxygloves, we all "appreciate" different things and have different expectations.
There is no " right" or "wrong" about our tastes in interviewers any more than there are rights or wrongs about our different tastes in foods that we prefer.
His shows provided a lot of entertainment to a lot of people but it's a tired format IMHO so I don't watch chat shows anymore.

Parky was 'of his day' as has been said. Ross was years later and lessons should have been learned. Ross didn't learn them.

Ramblingrose22 Sadly, I can't really think of anyone who's a good interviewer these days.....
Everyone seems to forget Piers Morgan. Whatever you think of him, he does a very good interview and really gets his guests to open up. There are 13 seasons of 'Piers Morgan's Life Stories' and 107 episodes, available online. Now taken over by Kate Garraway. Some amazing interviews there, far too many to mention.

I was so sorry to hear this. I used to love Parky back in the day. He, together with Paul O'grady (another much missed gentleman), hosted the only chat shows I ever watched. Parky had some of the greats on, and he (AFAIC) always showed great respect and was charming, polite and engaging.

The little section on the Parky at 80 compilation of Peter Ustinov and Dudley Moore was just fantastic. So funny and clever and on the spur of the moment. They don't make chat show guests like that any more either.

They don’t make chat show guests like that any more either

Yes, we tuned in all those years ago to watch ‘Parkinson’, not to see him as such, but to see his guests.

Nowadays, it’s just the usual round of celebrities, who also appear on game shows, quizzes, challenge contests, cookery shows…..

Anything to keep them in the public eye.

I really like Graham Norton, but there are far too many film stars on his show, promoting their latest film. I wish he would mix it up a bit more.
No-one comes anywhere near Parky.

I agree. Graham is the most entertaining part of his show.

That's a good way of putting it, Aveline. I think he's lovely but his chat show needs shaking up.

Graham's novels are rather good too!

I wasnt keen on him I thought he was boring. He didnt say much he let the guest do the talking which is a good thing but I thought he was bit creepy with the young women especially lovely Helen Mirren back in the day.