Jimmy Tarbuck emotional as he reveals he had lunch date with Michael Parkinson
The stars got together just days before Parkinson's death
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Jimmy Tarbuck was emotional as he revealed that he had made a date to see Michael Parkinson for lunch this week.
The veteran comedian and entertainer saw the talk show host - who he said was a "giant friend" - last week, just days before Parkinson passed away at the age of 88.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: "Last week at the house I was with young Michael, his son.
Read more: Michael Parkinson fans moved as BBC airs touching tribute to 'true TV great'
‘I said, 'I’ll go now, you’re getting a bit tired.' He said, 'OK, thanks for coming. Do you want lunch next week?'
"I said, 'You arrange it and I’ll be there.'
"And unfortunately, I won’t."
'He was a giant. A giant of our industry. But by god, I'm getting choked now, he was a giant friend. And he was a giant friend to me.'
Jimmy Tarbuck gives a moving tribute to his friend 'Parky', Michael Parkinson. pic.twitter.com/xUwkhyTvKW— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) August 18, 2023
Tarbuck, 83, said that Parkinson was "simply the best" and that he was a "giant" in the industry.
"But by God, I'm getting choked now," he went on.
"He was a giant friend. And he was a giant friend to me."
He went on: "And the talk shows? None of them have come near him since.
"He was just delightful, delightful company.
"And a very modest man. You didn’t see him go in anywhere and go, 'I'm Michael Parkinson.'
"He would walk in, well-dressed and good fun, I mean, great fun!"
Parkinson's family said in a statement that he passed away at home after a brief illness.
Tributes have poured in, with David Attenborough, Piers Morgan and David Beckham among those remembering the legendary TV star.
Read more: Michael Parkinson: Attenborough among stars saying goodbye to 'best interviewer in the business'
BBC director general Tim Davie called the star "the king of the chat show".
"Michael was truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed," he said.
Watch: Michael Caine and Elton John pay tribute to Michael Parkinson