HE is widely regarded to be one of the best talk show hosts and broadcasters of his generation.

Now the tables have turned for Michael Parkinson because the 84-year-old will be talking about his own life.

An Evening with Sir Michael Parkinson, which comes to the Parr Hall on Friday, February 14, is described as an intimate exchange with a man who has interviewed more than 2,000 of the most important cultural figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. It will also feature highlights from his much loved and long-running show Parkinson. Below Michael tells us about his best and worst interviews and his advice for today’s broadcasters.

Can you let us know what the audience can expect?

The show is myself in conversation with my son and long term producer Mike who takes me though my life and career with the help of some classic clips from the Parkinson archive.

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 lows along the way in the company of Billy Connolly, Muhammad Ali, Lauren Bacall, David Attenborough, Joan Rivers, Michael Caine. Madonna and Dame Edna Everage (Barry Humphries) to name but a few.

It’s a great show which I love doing and if I wasn’t on stage I would buy a ticket!

In your mind what is the role of the media in society?

I’ve never found a better description than the original mission statement of the BBC – to inform, educate and entertain.

Best interview?

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 English language and his forensic mind than my interviewing.

Worst interview?

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 our worst interviewee.

We then showed each other at the same time and each of us had written down Thor Heyerdahl, the Norwegian 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

Proudest moment from your career?

Being awarded honorary membership of the Musicians’ Union. 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

What do you make of current British television?

Slick, brilliantly produced and full of talent yet sadly often soulless and derivative. I was lucky to come into television when I did.

Any advice for up and coming broadcasters/interviewers today?

It’s difficult to do so because the media environment they are coming into is not one I recognize nor, to be honest, understand. The only piece of advice I can give any aspiring interviewer is do your homework and listen.

Tickets for An Evening with Sir Michael Parkinson are available at parrhall.culturewarrington.org