Parkinson leaves BBC

Thirty-three years after joining the BBC, talk show host Michael Parkinson has moved over to ITV.

10:38 09 May 2004

Thirty-three years after joining the BBC, talk show host Michael Parkinson has moved over to ITV.

The legendary Parkinson show, which was first broadcast in 1971, ended its BBC run on Saturday night.

Irish pop group The Corrs, tennis star Boris Becker, jazz musician Jamie Cullen, comedian Patrick Kielty and presenter Bruce Forsyth were Mr Parkinson's guests on his last BBC show.

While interviewing Mr Forsyth, the 69-year-old host insisted: "It is not a solemn occasion, me leaving... no, no, it is only a talk show."

The return of Match of the Day meant BBC bosses were going to deprive Parkinson of its primetime slot.

Mr Parkinson accepted a lucrative 2 year deal with ITV1 to broadcast the show on the commercial channel on Saturday nights.

Discussing the end of his reign as the BBC's talk show king, Mr Parkinson said: "I have spent 20-odd years of my working life with the BBC and I don't turn my back on that lightly.

"But when the BBC brought back Match of the Day, effectively my spot had gone.

"I just had this predicament and it wasn't one I enjoyed sorting out. ITV made the offer and what they did was give me what I wanted.

"All I've done is move the show over. It's a proven show and will work just as well on ITV as on the BBC."

Mr Parkinson will continue to work for BBC Radio 2 on Sundays.