Parkinson hailed as a great friend of Australia

Parky, as he was widely known, died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday aged 88.

The renowned British broadcaster interviewed some of the world's most famous celebrities of the 20th century from Muhammad Ali to John Lennon, as well as a host of Australians including Barry Humphries, Ian Thorpe, Shane Warne and Paul Hogan.

He got his television break in 1971 when the BBC offered him his own eponymous talk show and was knighted in 2008.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met the broadcaster a number of times, describing him as a "great friend of Australia" who loved to visit in summer.

"There wasn't a cricket Test in January where he wasn't a presence," Mr Albanese told Sky News on Friday.

"And my mum loved him - never missed an interview."

Mr Albanese said Parky had a unique way of interviewing celebrities.

"Parky had an ability to draw out the character of the people he was speaking with - it was as if they had known each other for years or decades," he said.

"He was warm and generous, he was never unkind either.

"It wasn't a gotcha moment. It was about drawing out character and he was the best."

Mike Carlton, who worked with Sir Michael when he was at LBC radio in London, said his colleague was "genial, enormous fun to be with, a miner's son" who "hated snobbery and pretence".

"And (he) had a large corner of his heart for Australia. There was no one quite like him," Carlton posted on social media site X.

Carlton noted there was a tall gum tree near Sir Michael's house on the banks of the Thames.

"He complained that it kept dropping leaves. 'Should I prune it?' he asked me. 'Don't think so,' I said."

Australian Associated Press