THE FACILITATOR (REMEMBERING MICHAEL PARKINSON)
When Michael Parkinson finally drew the curtain on his chat show career in 2007, he received a 12 minute standing ovation in the TV studio where it was filmed. A broadcasting stalwart for four decades, "Parky" was a national treasure in the UK and also adored in Australia, as the guest list for his final show proved. Sir David Attenborough, Michael Caine, Billy Connolly, David Beckham, Judi Dench, Jamie Cullum and Barry Humphries' Dame Edna Everage were among those final guests. However it was Peter Kay who stole the show, bringing along party hats, plastic plates, orange cordial, a Victoria Sandwich cake, Twister and Kerplunk for the festivities. Kay was a former warm up comedian for Parkinson's show and his ability to spot up and coming stars was one of the chat show host's canniest tricks. After all, it was on the recommendation of a garrulous taxi driver that he brought Billy Connolly onto his show, only for the Glaswegian comic to be propelled into national