Sir Michael Parkinson

[Bert45]

I have been listening to the many tributes to Sir Michael Parkinson. I find it interesting that almost every news item mentions that his career spanned "seven decades". Does this mean 70 years? No, of course not. It could mean as little as 61 years. But why has everybody mentioned "seven decades"? The Economic Times says: "Parkinson's career in TV spanned over seven decades.", whereas Channel 4 has: "In a career spanning almost seven decades, ..." His chat show ran from 1971 to 2007 [1971 till 1982 until renewed again from 1998 to 2007], which is only 36 years. According to the BFI, "His work in television began when he was invited to join the production team of Granada TV's regional current affairs programme Scene at 6.30 (1963 to 66)" and "On 26 June 2007, Parkinson announced his retirement" [Wikipedia]. That's only 44 years, which spans five decades. His last-ever interview with 5 News’ Dan Walker was on 25 November 2022. I wouldn't say that that should be included in his "TV career", but if it is, that makes 59 years since 1963, which spans six decades. So where do they get "seven decades" from?

[barry1010]

Maybe they are counting the 2021 show - Parkinson at 50

[barry1010]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000z8jy

[Barsel]

Thanks for that link Barry, I'll watch that later.

[Bert45]

Barry 1010, 2021 is only 58 years from 1963. That spans six decades.

[jackthehat]

60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's, 10's and 20's.
Count 'em. That's 7 decades by my reckoning.
Just because he wasn't appearing regularly on t'box doesn't mean that his career wasn't happening off-screen.

[bhg481]

Perhaps they're arguing that 1963 to 2021 spans decades called the sixties, seventies........2000s, 2010s and 2020s ie, seven "named" decades, rather than the true definition of any 10 consecutive years.

[bhg481]

Clearly, I can't type as quickly as JTH.

[nescio]

Bert45,
1963 to 2021 is 58 years, but that period began in the 1960s. It then continued through the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and ended in the 2020s. I make that a total of seven decades. Do you not?

[New Judge]

Celebrities' career-span is often quoted that way.

Sir Cliff Richard, for example, has a career that, from end to end, spans 65 years (1958 to date). But it covers eight decades (from the 1950s to the 2020s). I agree it is a bit odd to consider that somebody who, say, first had a hit on 31st December 1959 is said to have had a career in the 1950s, but that showbiz for you!

[Tilly2]

Does it really matter.?

[Zacs-Master]

It’s quite amazing the petty little things people find annoying, isn’t it.

[New Judge]

//It’s quite amazing the petty little things people find annoying, isn’t it.//

No. I find it perfectly reasonable. :-)

[Barsel]

I've just watched Parkinson at 50 on catch-up and enjoyed every minute of it.
I could watch every one of his interviews all over again, but I think my favourite would still be with Peter Ustinov, what a talented man he was.

[FoxLee2]

Did anyone listen to Parkinson on Radio 2 on a Sunday morning? At times he couldn't seem to string a sentence together. Er, what do you, I mean to say, do you and stuttering on and on. I would get so frustrated that I'd turn the radio off. I couldn't believe how bad he was and he was such a seasoned interviewer.

[Bert45]

nescio. I took his retirement in 2007 as being the end of his TV career. But jackthehat makes a good argument, if his appearance in 2021 can be included. I'll get my coat.

[Cloverjo]

I never liked him. His excruciating interviews with Meg Ryan, Helen Mirren, Anne Bancroft et al show that he was a pompous a’hole

[KUSTARD]

For me, the one with Peter Kay, David Beckham and Michael Caine was absolutely hysterical but, then, Peter Kay can't do anything wrong for me. I think Parky was looking a bit annoyed on the classic Rod Hull and Emu one.

[theshedman]

KUSTARD, Billy Connolly had the answer to Emu when on Parky. He said if that bird comes anywhere near me I will break it's neck and the arm that's inside it. Needless to say Rod Hull calmed the bird down as knowing Billy he may have done it.

[Maydup]

He did a live national tour in 2019. Many dates in towns across the UK.

He also did radio and writing. That all counts as part of his career. I think you might have his TV work only, rather than his career.

[Bert45]

All the reports I read said that it was his TV career that "panned seven decades. However, I have to admit that I got my sums wrong. To span seven decades you only need 52 years. For instance, to use those named by jackthehat, 1959 to 2011. This covers the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s -- seven decades. But if you discount the 'named' decades and allow any ten-year period to count as a decade, and go from his first appearance, 1963, add 52, gives 2015. No, if he retired in 2007, it's still not enough. He may have appeared on TV in 2015 or later and, no doubt, being a Yorkshireman, he would have been paid to appear, so those appearances, if they exist, may count as part of his TV career. I agree with Tilly2 and Zaks-Master, it doesn't really matter. But I think a lot of people have copied and pasted "seven decades" without thinking about it.