H
e was the Barnsley-born miner’s son whose television chat shows made him the confidant of more than 2,000 of the 20th century’s most celebrated A-listers — but only eagle-eyed horophiles might have noticed that Michael Parkinson’s always impeccable appearance also extended to his wrist-wear.
Two years after his death aged 88, half a dozen of Parky’s favourite luxury watches are set to realise more than £35,000 between them when they cross the block at the regional auction house Ewbank’s of Send, Surrey, at the end of September.
Sir Michael’s eponymous Parkinson show was on BBC1 from 1971-82 and again from 1998-2007, earning him national treasure status and bringing him face-to-face with a firmament of stars, ranging from Bing Crosby to Joan Collins and from Clint Eastwood to Victoria Beckham.
Perhaps surprisingly, he cited his 1973 interview with the Polish mathematician Jacob Bronowski as being “the one interview [I would save] from the thousands I have done” — and singled out the boxer Muhammad Ali as his “most remarkable” guest.
