Legendary singer and Wham! frontman George Michael was recently remembered after his 1998 interview with Michael Parkinson resurfaced following the chat show host’s death.
Michael Parkinson was well known for his decades-long career in television hosting, during which he interviewed some of the biggest stars in the world, including Muhammad Ali, Elton John, and Madonna. In 1998, Michael had the honor of appearing on the show, just months after he was arrested in LA for “engaging in a lewd act” in a public toilet.
A clip of Michael’s introduction to Parkinson has been widely shared online. In it, Michael expressed how grateful he was for the opportunity to appear on the show, recalling how his mother allowed him to stay up late to watch Parkinson when he was 8 or 9 years old. He then added jokingly that his mother “probably wouldn’t have been quite as thrilled that I had to take my willy out to get on here.” The moment was met with laughter and cheers from the studio audience.
The late singer’s fans have praised the “two great iconic entertainers” for their charm and good humour, as well as their mutual respect for each other. Tributes for Parkinson have been pouring in from all over the world, while fans of Michael have been able to look back on his and Andrew Ridgeley’s journey in the new Wham! documentary, which has been praised for its “ray of sunshine through dark clouds.”
Ridgeley also recalled one of his most fond memories with Michael – when they were kicked out of a Triple-X cinema in London’s Soho. He said they had gone to the strip club when they were teenagers and were asked to leave after refusing to pay their extortionate drinks bill. He added that like any good friends, they often got into silly situations.
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