Parkinson

I have just seen a 'Parky' show with the delightful Lesley Garrett. Apart from her marvelous voice, I was amazed at her vivacity and sense of humour. It was entertainment at it's best. Lesley was introduced as styling herself more like Gracie Fields than Maria Callas ... I'm sure she is truly loved for being herself.

If it wasn't for this type of show (and Parkinson show is the best of this genre) One would never see the other side of some of these celebrities, and we would be poorer for it.

It seems some people don't like the Parkinson show, these few people shouldn't watch it, especially when their jealousy for Parkinson's popularity shows so much.

Watched him since the 70's, always polite , draws guests out like no other, the only one Oprah would go on!he is the grand daddy of them all.His kind,gentle but probing manner puts his guests at there ease and in doing so they give more, the feeling is more of "old pals" chatting to each other than the stereotype chat show interview that seems to aim at "tripping up" the guest. Who could forget the interviews with Muhamid Ali and Helen Mirren to name but two.His abiding interest in sports journalism helps many interviews as his anicdotes role out, and his constant support of poor George Best over the years teaches so many of us what a "True" friend is really like.

Absolutely the best interviewer around. Has an amazing ability to make his guest feel at home. They simply talk about other things on Parkinsons than they do on any other talk show. With a lot of humor and intelligence, we get little anecdotes, funny and interesting stuff. Parkinson can get away with questions, the stars would normally not even bother to answer. But on Parkinsons there's this great atmosphere that makes everyone relax. Off course there's many funny shows on TV, but when you have watched Parkinsons, you feel not only entertained, but also a little wiser. Many times, you will sit around after the show, with a little happy smile on your face. To put it shortly, it doesn't get any better than this.

I don't blame Meg Ryan for being upset with the lousy job the surgeon did on her mouth and the break up of her marriage, but it's not the British audience's fault. If she is anything of an actress she could at least have acted as if she was gracious and intelligent.

She came across as a wannabee intellectual snob without an intellect to be snobbish about.

Michael Parkinson recently moved his chat show from BBC1 to ITV as BBC1 had offered him an earlier evening slot which he refused and ITV had no problem screening it at similar times as on BBC1. It is now usually shown at around 10 to 11:15 pm on Saturdays.

He has interviewed many stars over the years including some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Some of these stars include Michael Caine, Jimmy Tarbuck, John Wayne, Bruce Forsyth, Cilla Black, Julie Walters, Bruce Willis, Anne Widdecombe, Will Smith, Samual L Jackson and Kenneth Williams. One actor I'm surprised he has not interviewed yet is Leonardo DiCaprio, but there is time yet.

I quite enjoy watching Parkinson on Saturdays, even though sometimes he has guests on that I have never heard of. Certainly better than Johnathan Ross's Friday chat show.

Long may Parky be chat show king.