Broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson dies aged 88

Chat show host and broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has died aged 88, many tributes have flooded social media.

Sir Michael Parkinson had a thrilling and successful broadcasting career interviewing celebrities such as Muhammad Ali and Sir Elton John.

Sir Michael's agent said he died peacefully at home surrounded by his family following a short illness.

His famed career began in print journalism for local papers before becoming a feature writer at the Manchester Guardian and then the Daily Express in London.

He then moved his career to television working for Granada in the 1960s, his successful chat show began in 1971 until 1982 and made a comeback in 1998 and ran until 2007.

His easy-going, conversational interviews allowed him to interview some of the biggest stars in the world and in an interview in 2003, he said he had interviewed around 2000 celebrities so far in his career.

Simon Hattenstone, writer for The Guardian described him as "the great British talkshow host" in an interview in 2012.

In 2008 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to broadcasting and was made the first Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University.

In 2007, Sir Michael announced his retirement saying: "After three enjoyable and productive years at ITV, and after 25 years of doing my talk show I have decided that this forthcoming series will be my last. I'm going to take next year off to write my autobiography and consider other television projects. My thanks go out to all those who have worked on the shows down the years and the viewers for their loyal support and occasional kind words."

His interviews, however enjoyable were not without controversy after he refused to apologise to actress Helen Mirren after an interview in 1975 where he suggested serious actresses couldn't have large breasts which she responded by calling him a "sexist old fart".

On Piers Morgan's life stories, he also suggested the comment was sexist which Sir Michael responded: "Well maybe. But nobody got hurt, nobody died".

In 2013 Sir Michael revealed his diagnosis of prostate cancer but was thankfully given the all-clear in 2015.

Sir Michael leaves behind his wife Mary, and their three children, Nicholas, Andrew and Michael Jr.