A special evening at the Wycombe Swan will celebrate the life and career of the man who has interviewed more than 2,000 of the most important cultural figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. 

An Evening with Sir Michael Parkinson will see the legendary presenter in conversation with his son Mike and showing highlights from the Parkinson archive at the High Wycombe theatre on September 1. 

The show is a unique opportunity to get an intimate, entertaining and informative look at his remarkable journey from a village in Yorkshire whilst reliving the best moments from a show that for many defined their Saturday night.

Speaking about the show, Sir Michael said: “It’s the story of how I made it out of a pit village to the top of those famous stairs with all the highs and low along the way in the company of Connolly, Ali, Lauren Bacall, Sir David Attenborough, Joan Rivers, Sir Michael Caine, Madonna and Dame Edna Everage to name but a few.

“It’s a great show which I love doing and if I wasn’t on stage I buy a ticket.”

The television favourite was born in Cudworth in 1935 and started his career as a journalist on local newspapers. 
He eventually moved onto television in the 1960s and presented his eponymous BBC chat show series Parkinson from 1971. 

Looking back on his illustrious career, he said his proudest moment was being awarded honorary membership of the Musicians Union. 

He said: “Music has given me such joy in my life and my respect for anyone with musical talent knows no bounds. 

“To be accepted into their inner circle without an ounce of musical talent is a real honour.”

With more than 2,000 interviews under his belt, you may think it difficult to choose just one of those as his best interview - but Sir Michael has just one person in mind: “Not one you would expect me to say. It was with the eminent scientist Professor Jacob Bronowski. 

“He was the writer and presenter of that landmark book and television series The Ascent of Man. 

“It was the one time that the shape and progression of the interview went exactly the way I had prepared. 

“But that was more to do with Professor Bronowski’s perfect command of the English language and his forensic mind than my interviewing skills.”

And the worst? 

“Once, when they were still with us, I sat down with Alan Whicker and David Frost, both of whom I liked and deeply admired, and we agreed to write down on a piece of the paper the worst interviewee we had all interviewed. 

“We then showed each other at the same time. Each of us had written down Thor Heyerdahl, the Norweigan anthropologist most famous for the Kon-Tiki expedition in the Pacific. 

“We all agreed he would not be our first choice as a crewmate on a deep sea cruise.”

The television legend, in conversation with his son Mike, will take to the stage at the Wycombe Swan on September 1. 

Go to wycombeswan.co.uk or call 01494 512 000 for tickets, which are priced at £31.