17 August 2023 , 12:52
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Dickie Bird has recalled the final phone call with his “dear friend” Sir Michael Parkinson, who died aged 88 on Wednesday following a short illness. The sad news comes eight years after the renowned TV presenter was given the all-clear from prostate cancer, which he was initially diagnosed with back in 2013.
Michael had been close friends with the Yorkshire batsman for years, having first met him on the cricket pitch in the 1950s. A grieving Dickie, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, has now said he doesn't know "how I will cope" without the broadcaster in his life.
"I shall miss him, I’ll tell you that," he told PA news agency. "Not only was he a friend but he was a dear friend and I just don’t know how I will cope, I will miss him so much. There will never be another Parky."
Michael Parkinson's 'dear friend' recalls final emotional phone call with TV host just days before death (PA)Michael Parkinson was considered to be one of Britain's most renowned broadcasters, having carved out a career as a talkshow host that spanned decades. He interviewed some of the world's biggest stars during his lifetime, including He made a rare appearance at Dickie's 90th birthday in April, arriving at the Leeds' Headingley Stadium to celebrate his friend's milestone age in a blue suit and full head of white hair.
"He only rang me the other morning," Dickie said. "Just a couple of days ago really. We had a catch up. I said 'you keep going lad', and he said 'no, you keep going'. This is a real shock."
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Michael at Dickie Bird's 90th birthday in April (Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com)
Dickie Bird at Brian Close funeral, Headingley Leeds (Daily Mirror / Andy Stenning)"We were so, so close. His friendship meant more to me than anything else," he added. "It meant so much to me. Our friendship, if I wanted any advice I would ring Parky up. He helped me in so many, many ways."
Dickie ended his poignant tribute with the promise that their friendship "will always stand and that Michael "will always be my closest friend and my dearest friend."
Michael spoke fondly of his relationship with Dickie on the BBC Breakfast last year, hailing the umpire's "sense of humour" to host Naga Muchetty. "The stories of Dickie Bird, you could write 10 books about him...There's nothing nasty about him. He's a funny, funny man," he continued, before adding that he's always been very sociable and "needs company."