Product Description

From prize-winning journalist to chat show king on a show voted one of the top ten British TV programmes of all time, Michael Parkinson's starry career spans over four decades.

Now an international celebrity himself, the man from a humble but colourful Yorkshire mining family who can tease out the secrets of even the most reticent star guest, at last reveals his own story, with the easy manner and insight that has kept his audiences fascinated.

His distinguished career has involved working on highly acclaimed current affairs and film programmes. His wide interests and expertise include jazz, film, football and cricket.

Witty, humorous and blessed with exceptional intellectual clarity, Michael Parkinson's memoir is a joy to read.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-02
• Released on: 2008-10-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 412 pages

Review
"I recommend it heavily. It's a wonderful book" -- Melvyn Bragg "Parky's book is a joyous, breezy read, as much for the improbability of his early escapades as for his backstage anecdotes about the stars. It is also beautifully written" -- Daily Telegraph "The early chapters about his childhood and early career ... are disarmingly modest and offer a proper glimpse into another world" -- Independent "Crisp and detailed prose ... with an especially impressive account of a pre-second world war childhood in the north" -- Mark Lawson, Guardian 'Funny and self-deprecating and just as laid-back as he is on camera' -- Boyd Tonkin, Independent "This autobiography is just like an extended edition of a brilliant Parkinson on television -- engrossing and entertaining" -- Irish Times

Review
“I recommend it heavily. It’s a wonderful book” (Melvyn Bragg )

“Parky’s book is a joyous, breezy read, as much for the improbability of his early escapades as for his backstage anecdotes about the stars. It is also beautifully written” (Daily Telegraph )

"The early chapters about his childhood and early career ... are disarmingly modest and offer a proper glimpse into another world" (Independent )

"Crisp and detailed prose ... with an especially impressive account of a pre-second world war childhood in the north" (Mark Lawson, Guardian )

'Funny and self-deprecating and just as laid-back as he is on camera' (Boyd Tonkin, Independent )

“This autobiography is just like an extended edition of a brilliant Parkinson on television – engrossing and entertaining” (Irish Times )

About the Author
Michael Parkinson is not only a legendary TV and radio presenter, both in the UK and Australia, but an award-winning journalist. In 2007 he announced his retirement from his ITV chat show, but will continue his involvement with TV and radio. Michael Parkinson was awarded a knighthood for services to broadcasting in the 2008 New Year's Honours list.

Customer Reviews

A trip down memory lane
Got the book as a xmas pressie from my daughter. I lived in the same street as Michael Parkinson in Cudworth so much of the early part of the book was a definite trip down memory lane for me. Other reviewers have commented on the overload of cricket but as someone who knows nothing about the sport i didn't try to understand it from this book. What the cricket stories told me were more about his love for his father, his passions, his respect for sporting skill, his frustration with those that thrived on the adulation but resented the media interest and of how lifelong friendships are forged from a common love of a sport. Suppose its down to what you are looking for in an autobiog.

I found his writing style fantastic - easy, punchy and engaging. Loved all the snippets about the celebs. Had not realised he worked as a war correspondent and some of his stories are harrowing - but war is - and his attempts to make non-obvious political statements about the waste of war perhaps could have been more overt - having seen it first hand and now he is retired he should be entitled to voice his true feelings about it in a book like this.

His analysis of the BEEB was hard hitting and not something us viewers have much of an appreciation of.

Overall I found Parky quite self-deprecating in his book - something that is evident in reading other good autobiogs in my view.

Thoroughly enjoyed it!

A wonderful book
Do not read this if you are only interested in Parkinson's chat show reminiscences, as many negative reviewers seem to be. Parkinson is not a one dimensional character. He has many interests and has worked in many fields during his long career. He writes about every aspect of his life with honesty and feeling. A wonderful read.

Mr Chat Show
I was looking forward to Michael Parkinson's autobiography. I knew a little bit about him already, his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, his friendship with Dickie Bird, as well as all the wonderful people he has met through his chat show. This book filled in the gaps for things I did not know. How he got to being a journalist working on local papers to eventual national papers through producing television programmes to hosting what has become a national institution of his talk show.

The book starts off well, describing what it was like living in a Yorkshire pit village, the impact the colliery and miners had on his life as well as the influence of his father a very strong character is very apparent. The biggest encouragement his father gave him, beside in my opinion keeping his feet firmly on the ground is that he should be living and breathing cricket.

As a reader, I would certainly agree that 'Parky' certainly does this, and the book has a lot of cricket in it and I agree with over reviewers who have said it is a bit top heavy with it, and for someone who does not understand cricket, these parts of the book were virtually skipped over because I simply do not understand the terminology and the who the people are. He has a great love of sport, not just cricket and his tales of George Best make you realise what a superstar we lost when he died. There are names I recognised but they were few and far between when it came to sports stars.

That said there is some really great parts to the book and I loved learning about how much politics there is in the television that we as a viewer do not see, how ratings, money and whether your face fits at the time. At least you can understand how he got the guests he did, and the advice he gave many so the interview worked. But do not think these were primed guests; this was merely advice from a legend who knows his stuff.

A lot of the stories told about the celebrities I had heard before, if you are looking for any new revelations then this is not the book for you. Parky keeps counsel where it would obviously upset anyone. Don't worry he does mention the infamous 'Meg Ryan' incident, Emu and the colossus that is Mohammed Ali. All those iconic moments we get to see over and over again.

If you are looking for a kiss and tell then this is not the book for you, this is a genuine Yorkshire man, being very genuine about his life, his love for sport, television and importantly Mary his wife and the fact that he had the opportunity to meet the people, that me and you as 'ordinary folk' would never get the chance to meet. Parky bridges that gap.