Voting Station

Michael Parkinson

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TV Personality

The Resume

    (March 28, 1935-August 16, 2023)
    Born in Cudworth, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
    Best known for hosting the talk show ‘Parkinson’ (1971-82,1998-2007)
    Also hosted the TV shows ‘Cinema’ (1969-71), ‘TV-am’ (1983), ‘Give Us a Clue’ (1984-92), ‘Film 85’ (1985), ‘Parkinson One on One’ (1987-88), and ‘Michael Parkinson: Masterclass’ (2012- )
    Hosted the radio programs ‘Desert Island Discs’ (1985-88), ‘Parkinson on Sport’ (1994-96), and ‘Parkinson’s Sunday Supplement’ (1996-2007)
    Sports columnist for the Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph
    Wrote the ‘Woofits’ series of children’s books

Why he might be annoying:

    He originally wanted to be a cricketer, but failed a tryout with the Yorkshire County Club.
    He said, ‘I was born looking middle-aged, and I had bags at 23.’
    He said one of his worst moments was blanking out and forgetting John Wayne’s name. (‘After that I put the guest's name on the crib sheet. Isn't that awful?’)
    He said about a frustrating interview with Muhammad Ali, ‘There were times if he was smaller than me, I would have hit him, but I was wise to resist that temptation.’
    After being knighted (2008), he said, ‘They give it to anyone nowadays.’

Why he might not be annoying:

    He has been married to Mary Heneghan for over sixty years.
    He was named president of the Sports Journalists’ Association of Great Britain (2005).
    ’Parkinson’ was named the 8th best British television program by the British Film Institute (2000).
    He declared, ‘In my television paradise there would be no more property programmes, no more police-chasing-yobbos-in-cars programmes and, most of all and please God, no more so-called documentary shows with titles like My 20-Ton Tumour, My Big Fat Head, Wolf Girl, Embarrassing Illnesses and The Fastest Man on No Legs.’

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 56 Votes: 39.29% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying