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There are few public figures who have the sort of charisma and wily charm of Stephen Colbert. Although he’s achieved fame with his satirical on-air persona on The Colbert Report —a character whose political orientation could only be described as bigoted and small-minded to the point of absurdity— in real life, Colbert is an incredibly generous philanthropist who has given liberally to charity.

Colbert has hosted high-profile charity events for Amnesty International, a worldwide organization which advocates for human rights for people all over the world. Colbert has also donated to Autism Speaks, which is an organization that funds Autism research, and seeks to find the best preventative measures and potential cures.

Charities & foundations supported

Stephen Colbert has supported the following charities:

Als AssociationAmnesty InternationalAutism SpeaksCharity FolksClinton Global InitiativeCollaboration FoundationComic ReliefDonorsChoose.orgExploring The ArtsFeeding AmericaFirst BookGlobal Fund for WomenJoining ForcesNEXT for AutismParkinson Society Maritime RegionSave the ChildrenStand Up To...

On Thursday 28 November 2024, BBC Four broadcasts Parkinson!

Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Parkinson” promises to be an exciting one, featuring a diverse lineup of guests. Michael Parkinson will welcome Sir Robert Helpmann, a renowned dancer and actor known for his contributions to the arts. His presence is sure to bring fascinating stories and insights from his illustrious career.

Joining Helpmann is Claire Bloom, a celebrated actress with a rich history in film and theater. Bloom’s experiences and thoughts on her craft will likely provide an engaging perspective for viewers. Her talent and charm have made her a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.

The episode will also feature the legendary Eartha Kitt, who is remembered not only for her singing but also for her acting and activism. Kitt’s unique voice and captivating personality are expected to add an unforgettable touch to the conversation.

With such a remarkable trio of guests,...

On Saturday 23 November 2024, BBC Four broadcasts Parkinson!

Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Parkinson” on BBC Four promises an engaging blend of humor and insight. This time, Michael Parkinson sits down for a conversation with three notable guests: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, and John Conteh. Each guest brings their unique background and personality, making for an interesting discussion.

Peter Cook and Dudley Moore are well-known for their comedic partnership, which has left a lasting mark on British comedy. Their witty banter and playful interactions are likely to entertain and amuse. Michael Parkinson’s skilled interviewing style will help highlight their chemistry and the stories behind their famous sketches and performances.

John Conteh, a former boxing champion, adds a different flavor to the conversation. His experiences in the ring and life beyond sports will provide an intriguing contrast to the comedic talents of Cook and Moore. The mix of comedy and...

An iconic moment in television history returns to screens as “Parkinson” airs on Saturday, 23 November 2024, at 11:35 Pm on BBC Four. This episode features the legendary Michael Parkinson in conversation with three fascinating guests: the comedic duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, alongside boxing champion John Conteh. It’s a rare chance to revisit one of the most celebrated interview shows in British television history.

Known for his warm and intelligent interviewing style, Parkinson brings out the wit and charisma of Cook and Moore, exploring their groundbreaking contributions to comedy. Their banter and chemistry light up the studio, making for truly unforgettable television. Meanwhile, John Conteh shares his inspiring journey as a world-class boxer, offering insight into the challenges and triumphs of his career.

This episode captures a perfect blend of humor, charm, and personal stories. Whether revisiting the show or discovering it for the first time, viewers are in for a timeless treat.

Deep Fusion Films has announced the commission of a new 8-part podcast series Virtually Parkinson hosted by an AI replica of the late Sir Michael Parkinson to be launched later this year.

Best known for his talk show Parkinson, Sir Michael Parkinson, who died last year, was one of the UK’s most respected TV presenters, broadcasters and journalists whose career spanned seven decades. The podcast series will be a completely unscripted conversation between a guest and an AI version of Sir Michael Parkinson.

The AI ‘Michael Parkinson’ is built using knowledge garnered from his career, including his back-catalogue of over 2000 interviews with some of the most important cultural figures of our time. This approach enables AI Michael to converse in an authentic manner and offers podcast guests a true-to-life experience.

The podcast was commissioned by Night Train Digital, a new digital content agency specializing in content strategy, distribution, and the development of digital brands.

On Saturday 31 August 2024, BBC Four broadcasts Parkinson!

Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Parkinson” on BBC Four promises to be an engaging look into the life of snooker legend Ray Reardon. Michael Parkinson, known for his insightful interviews, will sit down with Reardon to explore his remarkable journey from the coal mines to the snooker table.

Reardon’s story begins in his early years, working in the mines. He will share his experiences of life underground and how he discovered his passion for snooker at the Tredegar Mineworkers’ Institute. This part of his life shaped him not just as a player, but as a person.

One of the most gripping moments in the episode will be when Reardon recounts a terrifying incident where he was trapped underground for three hours. He will describe how he managed to stay calm during that frightening time by mentally playing marbles with his brother.

Alec Guinness will be forever remembered as Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas’ iconic 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Training Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker, Guinness had a lot more to offer than just his acting skills.

Alec Guinness in Star Wars | Lucasfilm

From fixing the dialogues to suggesting storylines that changed the future of Star Wars as we know it, Alec Guinness was quite involved in the franchise, and George Lucas wasn’t one to shy away from giving him a handsome reward for his work.

When Alec Guinness Got The Script of Star Wars

Born in 1914, Guinness was already a veteran actor when George Lucas thought about his 1977 film. Giving the script to the actor, Lucas stated that he always wanted Guinness for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

A still featuring Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977) | Lucasfilm

However, it wasn’t smooth sailing at all...

Restored 1976 doc of Connolly’s tour of Ireland shows that, despite his bombastic stage presence, he is impeccably polite. But his naughtier material hasn’t aged well

Here is a 70s time capsule as pungent as a brimming pub ashtray. Restored and rereleased, Big Banana Feet is the 1976 documentary about Billy Connolly’s live shows in Dublin and Belfast the year before, just after his appearance on the BBC’s Parkinson show made him a star virtually overnight, and allowed his legions of new fans to hear him live and unexpurgated.

Billy and his hangdog entourage – all looking like a very downbeat version of the Bay City Rollers – travel to Dublin then to Belfast by private plane, but aside from that, everything looks very non-luxury. The backstage areas have the air of a scout hut, and there don’t seem to be any riders with Jack Daniel’s, cocaine, only-green-coloured M&Ms,...

Paul Fox, the British television executive who commissioned iconic shows such as The Two Ronnies and Parkinson, has died aged 98.

Fox’s family informed the BBC of his passing this morning. He is best known for spells as Controller of BBC1 and Head of Network Television for the wider BBC, and as Managing Director of Yorkshire Television.

Fox, who as knighted in 1991, began his career in the 1950s as a newsreel scriptwriter and went on to upload Sportsview and Panorama. During that time he invented BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

In 1967, he then became head of BBC1, going on to commission some of the BBC’s biggest shows such as comedy The Two Ronnies, talk show Parkinson and wartime sitcom Dad’s Army.

Between 1973 and 1988 he led Yorkshire Television, which held the Yorkshire franchise for ITV at the time. He returned to the BBC before retiring.

BBC Director-General, Tim Davie,...

Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that legendary broadcaster Michael Parkinson has passed away at the age of 88. A statement from his family reads, “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family.”

Dubbed “the king of the intelligent interview” in a tribute tweet from Eddie Izzard today, Michael Parkinson was best known as the host of “Parkinson,” a long-running British talk show for BBC One (and later ITV) that began in 1971. The show featured conversational interviews with various celebrities, with guests over the decades including the likes of Anthony Hopkins, Bing Crosby, Cher, Clint Eastwood, David Bowie, Denzel Washington, Elton John, Gene Wilder, John Lennon, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Robin Williams, Tom Cruise, and Tom Hanks.

The series ran on BBC One from 1971-1982 and 1998-2004, and on ITV from 1987-1988 and 2004-2007. The final episode of “Parkinson” aired...

Michael Parkinson, the iconic British host of a self-titled talk show who regularly interviewed the world’s biggest celebrities, died Thursday “in the company of his family,” BBC reported.

In a statement, Parkinson’s family said, “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,” his long-running talk show, was on-air from 1971 to 1982, and then again from 1998 to 2007.

His career spanned seven decades, in which he interviewed Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, Madonna, Helen Mirren, Elton John – by his own estimation, Parkinson has interviewed over 2,000 stars.

Parkinson was born in South Yorkshire, England, and began his career as a journalist for the Manchester Guardian and the Daily Express. During the 1960s, Parkinson moved over to TV presenting, where he hosted BBC1’s “Twenty-Four Hours.” His own show...

Michael Parkinson, the British chat show king who was confirmed dead on Thursday, will be remembered as one of the outstanding interviewers of his generation. During his show’s 36-year run across the BBC and ITV, Parkinson sat down with some of the biggest stars of our time, attracting acclaim and sometimes controversy. Scroll on for some of his most memorable moments.

Muhammad Ali

Parkinson had three significant encounters with the greatest boxer of all time, the first of which took place in 1971. The interview, in which Ali reflected on his skill in front of the camera and in the ring, was organized before a time when publicists heavily policed celebrity talk show appearances. On hearing Ali was in the UK to promote a soft drink, Parkinson’s producer snagged the boxer on a trip to a bottling factory for a “news interview.” In reality, Parkinson and a studio audience were eagerly waiting.

Michael Parkinson, the English broadcaster who hosted the long-running talk show “Parkinson,” has died, the BBC reported Thursday. He was 88.

In a statement to the BBC, Parkinson’s family said: “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 hosted his eponymous talk show from 1971 to 1982 on BBC1, and then again from 1998 to 2007. In 2004, “Parkinson” moved from BBC1 to ITV. Over the course of the show’s run, Parkinson interviewed guests like Paul McCartney, Muhammad Ali, George Michael, Madonna, Fred Astaire, Orson Welles and Mel Gibson. By his own estimation, Parkinson interviewed 2,000 celebrities during his career.

Born in the village of Cudworth in South Yorkshire, England, Parkinson began his career as a journalist working for the Manchester Guardian and Daily Express. He also spent two years in the British Army,...

LONDON -- Veteran British journalist and talk show host Michael Parkinson has been lured from the BBC to rival broadcaster ITV, the network said Monday. The deal means the long-standing Saturday-night primetime chat show Parkinson will switch to ITV1 exclusively for two years beginning in the fall. "Television stars don't come much bigger than Michael Parkinson, and I am delighted that he is joining us at ITV," ITV director of programs Nigel Pickard said. "There's no doubt that he is the very best in his field and will be a fantastic addition to ITV's Saturday nights." Such guests as Nelson Mandela, Orson Welles, Muhammad Ali, Paul McCartney and Shirley MacLaine have joined Parkinson on his show.