In his incredible, long-spanning career as a chat show host, Michael Parkinson interviewed countless celebrities and famous faces. But he has revealed there are two people he would have loved to speak to – US president Donald Trump and the Queen. The 82-year-old, who called time on his show Parkinson in 2007, opened up about his dream guests during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday, admitting he would come out of retirement for the chance to interview the duo.
Michael Parkinson appeared on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday
Asked by Piers Morgan – a friend of Donald Trump – what he would ask the US President, Michael replied to laughter: "I'd ask him if he's all there! He says some weird stuff, doesn't he?… It's a frightening prospect. It's very erratic behaviour." Of the Queen – described by Piers as "the holy grail for interviewers" – Michael said he would love the chance to ask her about her husband, Prince Philip. "It's got to be, hasn't it," he said. "When you think of what she's done, and what she's seen. I'd like to ask her what her old man is really like!"
He opened up about his now-infamous interview with Meg Ryan
Michael was also asked if there were any interviews he wishes he could do over. "I'd like to get the Meg Ryan one right," he replied. "We were both in a fairly grim mood I think, for various reasons. Her boyfriend [Russell Crowe] had left her and all that, and the film she was promoting she knew wasn't very good. And I… I don't know what happened. I just took against her." Agreeing that Meg had been "incredibly difficult" he replied: "But there was another way to handle that, and extract more fun from it than I got."
Michael also touched upon the interviews that are memorable for all the right reasons, including the four times he had legendary boxer Muhammad Ali on his sofa. "When he walked into the studio there was an audible gasp," he said. “He was a beautiful man."