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Michael Parkinson has been simultaneously interviewing the biggest celebrities, and delighting audiences around the world for over 30 years now, but every career has to come to an end, and Parkinson is no exception.

Earlier this year he announced, via his Radio 2 show, that he would be making this latest ITV1 series of his chat show, the last ever. So to commemorate the occasion there will be three specials to end his reign as the king of chat show hosts.

The second of the specials, to be shown on ITV1 on December 15th is the big one, as it comprises Michael Parkinson’s wish list of guests. He hand picked every person who would appear, a mixture from his many years, and people he looked up to, enjoyed interviewing, and counted as personal friends.

While filming the show, he is reported to have had to fight back tears, no surprise seeing as this seems to be Parky’s final bow in broadcasting, with him also quitting his radio show to write an autobiography and do some travelling.

First in the guest chair was Billy Connolly, a man interviewed by Parky many times over the last few decades. He cried, in usual big yin style “Don’t go, it’s the only TV I get, nobody else will have me!â€?

Then Sir Michael Caine, and Sir David Attenborough were the guests, and the four grey headed gentlemen sat around sycophantically praising each other’s work, and chuckling at their own jokes.

As The Telegraph point out, it’s this sort of outdated display of superficial interviewing, where everyone seems to be part of an old boys club which proves why Michael Parkinson’s show has to come to an end anyway.

Then it was the turn of David Beckham, with the pair talking about England’s defeat at the hands of Croatia last week, a loss which means the England football team won’t be going to Euro 2008.

Peter Kay was next on to the sofa, and spent a lot of the time talking about Parky’s future career possibilities, dressing him up as a lollipop man.

Then Jamie Cullum and Dame Edna Everage sang for Parky, before Dame Judi Dench finished the show, and his career off by paying homage to him.

Michael Parkinson has had a great career, but with his age and chat show styles having moved on, it was definitely time for him to go out on top.

[Photo Source]

Michael Parkinson, Parky, ITV1, Radio 2, David Beckham, Jamie Cullum, Edna Everage, Judi Dench, Michael Caine, David Attenborough, Peter Kay, Billy Connolly, UK, British