Television
Death of Sir Michael Parkinson: UK talk show legend remembered
Veteran broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has died at the age of 88, reports the BBC.
His TV career spanned seven decades, and he interviewed the world’s biggest stars on his long-running chat show.
A statement from Sir Michael’s family said: “After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family.”
Sir David Attenborough led the tributes, saying the host “always wanted the interviewee to shine”.
Sir David, who was a guest on Parkinson a number of times, told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One: “With Michael, it was always friendly, always thorough, always intelligent, always a pleasure to do it, and I think that came over no matter who is interviewee was.
“He always did his homework, he always knew what the interesting bits were, and he steered you through.”
He added: “As a viewer, you knew if Michael was asking the questions there were going to be good questions, they would elicit good answers.”
BBC director general Tim Davie described Sir Michael as “truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed”.
“Michael was the king of the chat show and he defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed,” Davie said.
“He interviewed the biggest stars of the 20th Century and did so in a way that enthralled the public. Michael was not only brilliant at asking questions, he was also a wonderful listener.”
Sir Michael introduced the first Parkinson show in 1971 on BBC television. The show ran initially for 11 years and spanned hundreds of episodes in which Sir Michael combined an avuncular style with a journalistic background.
He returned to the BBC in 1998 for another run of the show. Sir Michael estimated he had interviewed more than 2,000 guests in total.
Talk show TV giant found ‘second home’ in Australia
Although very much a British institution, Parkinson was a household name in his “second home” of Australia, Amy Ripley in The Sydney Morning Herald.
He worked at various times from 1979 to 2014 for the ABC, Channel Ten and Channel Nine, interviewing some of Australia’s biggest names including Mel Gibson, Bob Hawke, Shane Warne, Kylie Minogue and Kerry Packer.
In 2011, Parkinson became the first non-Australian to deliver the Australia Day address at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, using the press conference afterwards to indicate his support for Australia becoming a republic, stating: “Why should Australia not be a republic? It’s its own country, its own man. I find it, in a sense, incomprehensible that it’s not that now.”
His career in Australia often ran in parallel to his work in the UK, and his series Parkinson in Australia was shown on the ABC from 1979 to 1982. He later recorded – with fellow veteran broadcaster Sir David Frost – Frost over Parkinson and Parkinson: The Frost Interviews for Network Nine. This was followed by solo programs Parkinson’s Australians, Billy Connolly – The Parkinson Interviews and Muhammad Ali – The Parkinson Interviews for Network Ten, as well as squeezing in a radio show on 2CH.
TV legend Michael Parkinson dies at 88 after career interviewing world’s biggest names
The entertainment industry’s biggest names have paid tribute to Michael Parkinson after the legendary interviewer died at the age of 88, reports News Corp’s Holly Hales and Tiffany Bakker.
David Attenborough, Elton John and Michael Caine are among the many who have lauded the “TV titan” and “king of the chat show”.
“Michael Parkinson was irreplaceable, he was charming, always wanted to have a good laugh,” said Oscar-winner, Caine. “He brought the best of everyone he met. Always looked forward to be interviewed by him.”
“RIP Parky. The GOAT of TV interviewers” British media personality Piers Morgan said. “Wonderful character, great writer, sublimely talented broadcaster, and hilarious lunch partner. Loved him.”
British cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott has described his childhood friend as “the soul of Yorkshire”. The pair met at their local cricket club when they were 15.
“He was the best chat show host because he listened to people. He not only asked questions but he listened to them and he actually liked them,” Boycott told British media.
Seven reports Matildas semi-final clash breaks viewing records
While unfortunately, the Matildas’ campaign for World Cup glory came to an end in their semi-final clash with England, Seven reports that the game reached 11.15 million Australians nationally, reports Mediaweek.
The Australian team’s 3-1 loss to England had a national average audience on Seven and 7plus of 7.13 million, making it the most-watched TV program since the OzTAM audience measurement system started in 2001. (OzTAM does not capture out-of-home viewing at pubs, clubs, stadia, etc.)
The game’s average audience of 7.13 million included a national broadcast audience of 6.17 million viewers on Seven (4.5 million in the capital cities) and another 957,000 viewers on 7plus – breaking the record for the most streaming event ever in Australia.
The Matildas v England Semi Final was the #1 broadcast program last night nationally and in the capital cities in all people, 25 to 54s and 16 to 39s.
The post-game program was the #2 broadcast program nationally in 25 to 54s and 16 to 39s and #3 in all people (2.33 million broadcast viewers). The post-game program was #3 nationally across all age groups (2.18 million broadcast viewers).
7plus dominated BVOD viewing yesterday, with a 76.2% share. In live streaming, it had an 84.4% share.
Business of Media
Domain boss backs Labor housing package as ‘positive step forward’
Domain chief executive Jason Pellegrino has applauded Labor’s proposed housing plan, calling housing affordability the most significant social and generational issue of consequence Australia must deal with, reports Nine Publishing’s Calum Jaspan.
Pellegrino spoke as Domain posted its full year financial results, with revenue down 0.5 per cent to $345.7 million and net profits down a further 28.2 per cent to $38.6 million. Domain shares finished the day 7.8 per cent down at $3.76.
Pellegrino put the company’s disappointing results down to “the toughest market conditions we have ever seen”, but he was upbeat about a rebound towards the end of the year, with listings lifting across both Melbourne and Sydney.
TV celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has business empire back on the boil
Jamie Oliver dished up dividends totalling £6.8 million from the companies that control his media interests last year as his business bounced back from the collapse of his British restaurants, reports The Times.
According to the 2022 accounts for Jamie Oliver Holdings and Jamie Oliver Licensing, his two main companies, combined turnover rose by 8.1 per cent to £29.7 million, while underlying earnings before exceptionals rose by 4.4 per cent to £9.3 million as the impact of the pandemic dissipated.
It marks a significant turnaround after the Jamie’s Italian chain collapsed in 2018 with debts of £83 million, before being wound up last year.
Jamie Oliver Holdings paid a dividend of £5 million, while the licensing business made a payout of £1.8 million. The total payout was up from £5.6 million in 2021.
Together the two companies represent all Oliver’s media interests, mainly television, distribution, digital production and book publishing. They also include products and partnerships, such as endorsements, royalty streams from licensing the Jamie Oliver brand and sales of branded products.
Oliver, 48, bought back the international franchise business that had been part of Jamie’s Italian and has continued to expand it, adding 13 new outlets last year.
The restaurant business now has 70 outlets in 22 countries, serving 35 million people across seven formats, including Jamie’s Italian, Jamie’s Deli and Jamie Oliver Kitchen. Franchise income doubled last year.
Radio
Radio legend John Laws off the radio for a month battling the flu
Mystery surrounds exactly how long John Laws will be away from the mic on his morning radio show on 2SM Super Network, reports News Corp’s Lisa Woolford.
The radio legend has been absent from the airwaves since August 1, battling a serious case of the flu, with colleagues Pete Davis and Dave Cochrane filling in on his The John Laws Morning Show.
He turned 88 on August 8, and 2SM wished their star a happy birthday on social media – spruiking his morning show – but with no mention of his absence or when he would return.
Cochrane said on Wednesday morning, he’d be in the chair for another week.
“He’s recuperating from the flu and will be away this week and next week.”
That followed his comments on Monday morning that they had their fingers crossed Laws would be up and about and “behind the golden microphone next Monday”.
Television
True Story with Hamish & Andy…would they do a celebrity version?
Andy Lee has a success on his hands with The Hundred with Andy Lee, but would he and Hamish Blake ever consider returning to their True Story format? Asks David Knox at TV Tonight.
“I’d love to do that, I think, eventually. It could be really fun,” Lee tells TV Tonight.
“We’ve been continuing to make it in different countries around the world. The latest version is the Finland version. That’s the one we’ve just recently finished. So it’s been it’s been continuing abroad, under the radar.
“France did a really interesting thing. They only did celebrity stories. So there could be an interesting angle on that if we did True Story again, and maybe just hear from celebrities, and see what their crazy anecdotes are.”
While other territories make the show abroad the pair remain executive producers through Radio Karate to ensure a quality product.
“We were very hands on in the American one which had a season last year on Peacock with Ed Helms and Randall Parks. Really big names doing it,” he added.
“Particularly in the countries where we don’t speak the language it becomes very difficult!”
Sports Media
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones makes bizarre rant at journalists in failed bid at deflection
Australian rugby journalists are a disgrace and need to be better trained in how to ask questions.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was right when he said at his departing media call at Sydney Airport on Thursday, before the team headed to France for their World Cup campaign, that it was the “worst press conference I’ve ever had”, reports News Corp’s Jamie Pandaram.
“Give yourselves an uppercut boys,” Jones said, before his Akubra adorned head spun round and he was headed for the exit terminal.
Where were the balloons and streamers? The signs reading: “Keep Bill safe on the flight home”?
Instead, Jones was peppered with questions about why his attack coach, Brad Davis, suddenly quit and was not travelling to the World Cup.
Jones was incensed by the reporters’ attitudes. “I can’t believe the level of negativity, you’re so bloody negative about everything,” Jones said.
“We’re going off to a World Cup you think we can’t win. You think the selection process is bad because the players complained. We’ll go out there and do our best boys. If you haven’t got anything positive to say, don’t ask.
“I know you blokes think we can’t do any good, so don’t ask any questions. Just be the pessimists you are. Keep Australian rugby where it’s been.”