for the rest of his career. but at least myjudgment was right. very down to earth, very straightforward, very grounded, a wonderful marriage, lovely family. part of him couldn't believe what what had happened to him. and the other half enjoyed it. and but he never lost sight of his roots, which were pretty well delineated by him on many programmes. live now to gloria hunniford, presenter of rip off britain on bbc one, as well as a myriad of other programmes through the years. gloria, you knew michael parkinson for many of those years. what are your thoughts right now? my thoughts toda are your thoughts right now? my thoughts today are just — your thoughts right now? my thoughts today are just sadness, _ your thoughts right now? my thoughts today are just sadness, because - your thoughts right now? my thoughts today are just sadness, because in - your thoughts right now? my thoughts today are just sadness, because in a l today are just sadness, because in a weird, naive way, i thought michael would go on forever. i feel like weird, naive way, i thought michael would go on forever. ifeel like he has been part of our lives for so long. i heard you saying that he has done over 2000 interviews. i think as a legacy, we are going to be seeing michael on the television for quite a long time. there is a lot of fodder there, quite a long time. there is a lot of fodderthere, it quite a long time. there is a lot of fodder there, it is all in the archives. i think it was the master of it. for me, he was absolutely the best interviewer for chat shows. he was a great listener, never mind a man who was a great interviewer. you always learn something. with any interview, he always thought, gosh, i didn't know that, or, well... that is unfortunate, _ i didn't know that, or, well... that is unfortunate, i— i didn't know that, or, well... that is unfortunate, i don't _ i didn't know that, or, well... that is unfortunate, i don't know if you can hear me, gloria, but we have lost our audio connection. we can see you, but unfortunately we can't hear you. see you, but unfortunately we can't hearyou. i see you, but unfortunately we can't hear you. i do apologise. you look glorious on screen, by the way. we are just glorious on screen, by the way. we arejust going to glorious on screen, by the way. we are just going to reconnect. we really do want to speak to you and hear your memories and tributes to michael parkinson. please hang on for us and we will come back to you. well, it's that time of year when there are trials, tribulations and of course, celebrations as a—level results were opened by thousands of students in england, wales and northern ireland. the proportion of a or a* grades is 27.2% — down from a peak of 44.8% during the pandemic. vocational t—level results are also being released, along with many as and btec level 3 grades. and across the uk, 79% of those receiving results gained a place at their first—choice university. live now to our reporter, nicky schiller, who's at a college in leeds for us. where are you, and what is the feeling like there? i where are you, and what is the feeling like there?— where are you, and what is the feeling like there? i am at leeds sixth form _ feeling like there? i am at leeds sixth form college _ feeling like there? i am at leeds sixth form college in _ feeling like there? i am at leeds sixth form college in the - feeling like there? i am at leeds sixth form college in the heart i feeling like there? i am at leedsj sixth form college in the heart of the city centre. i don't know about you, but being sent on this story today brought back all those memories of when i got my results, and going in get them, and throughout the morning, we have had students arriving to collect their results. it has calmed down a lot now. there were quite a few here early in the morning, because they were allowed to get them from 8am. i have to say, most of the students here were very relaxed, and very calm. a lot of smiles. a lot of celebrations from the students. with me is matt, programme managerfor the humanities here at the college. i am interested, because we have been talking a lot about how the marking this time has gone back to pre—covid levels in 2019, and the fact that these students, it is the first time they have probably sat an exam with these a—levels, because their gcses were marked by teachers. how has that been, both of the students and you as a teaching staff? it students and you as a teaching staff? , ., , , students and you as a teaching staff? , , students and you as a teaching staff? , ~ staff? it is absolutely the case. a lot of our students _ staff? it is absolutely the case. a lot of our students have - staff? it is absolutely the case. a lot of our students have not - staff? it is absolutely the case. a lot of our students have not had l staff? it is absolutely the case. a| lot of our students have not had a formal _ lot of our students have not had a formal exam experience. for that it has been _ formal exam experience. for that it has been a — formal exam experience. for that it has been a difficulty. therefore they have — has been a difficulty. therefore they have put into revising, and also _ they have put into revising, and also practising mock papers, or throughout the two years of the a-level, — throughout the two years of the a—level, has put them in good stead. a—level, has put them in good stead. a lot of— a—level, has put them in good stead. a lot of the _ a—level, has put them in good stead. a lot of the students who have come to us_ a lot of the students who have come to us with _ a lot of the students who have come to us with teacher assessed greats, in many— to us with teacher assessed greats, in many respects had a lot of work to do. _ in many respects had a lot of work to do. but— in many respects had a lot of work to do, but we are very thankful that a lot of— to do, but we are very thankful that a lot of them have, and it has been very successful for a lot of students. in very successful for a lot of students-_ very successful for a lot of students. . ., ., students. in england we have gone back to 2019 _ students. in england we have gone back to 2019 levels. _ students. in england we have gone back to 2019 levels. in _ students. in england we have gone back to 2019 levels. in northern i back to 2019 levels. in northern ireland and wales they have been a little bit more generous. the education secretary as saying that everyone has to get back to exams and sitting them, because it is the fairest way. you think they could have been a bit more leeway? what fairest way. you think they could have been a bit more leeway? what i would say to — have been a bit more leeway? what i would say to a _ have been a bit more leeway? what i would say to a student _ have been a bit more leeway? what i would say to a student picking - have been a bit more leeway? what i would say to a student picking up - would say to a student picking up their— would say to a student picking up their results today is, there needs to he _ their results today is, there needs to he an _ their results today is, there needs to be an acknowledgement of everything they have been through with covid and remote learning, and the different rhetoric they have received — the different rhetoric they have received. this is an a level that takes _ received. this is an a level that takes a — received. this is an a level that takes a lot— received. this is an a level that takes a lot of effort and work, and to hear— takes a lot of effort and work, and to hear that — takes a lot of effort and work, and to hear that from a minister is not what _ to hear that from a minister is not what they— to hear that from a minister is not what they want to hear today. today is the _ what they want to hear today. today is the day _ what they want to hear today. today is the day for celebration, it is the day— is the day for celebration, it is the day for— is the day for celebration, it is the day for seeing family. we have had students today who have been crying _ had students today who have been crying on _ had students today who have been crying on the phone to their parents _ crying on the phone to their parents. 0ne mum was screaming down the phone _ parents. 0ne mum was screaming down the phone to _ parents. 0ne mum was screaming down the phone to her daughter. it was wonderful— the phone to her daughter. it was wonderful to see. the reality of it is students, young people, who need to have _ is students, young people, who need to have the _ is students, young people, who need to have the recognition they deserve _ to have the recognition they deserve. , . , to have the recognition they deserve. , , , ., deserve. very briefly, for you it must be a _ deserve. very briefly, for you it must be a relief _ deserve. very briefly, for you it must be a relief to _ deserve. very briefly, for you it must be a relief to see - deserve. very briefly, for you it must be a relief to see your- must be a relief to see your students go out with the results they wanted?— students go out with the results the wanted? ~ , , , ~ they wanted? absolutely the case. a lot of my students, _ they wanted? absolutely the case. a lot of my students, on _ they wanted? absolutely the case. a lot of my students, on the _ lot of my students, on the humanities courses, are going on to do humanities degrees, which is fantastic — do humanities degrees, which is fantastic. they are really important, for the whole of the uk economy — important, for the whole of the uk economy. students who have come in with gcse _ economy. students who have come in with gcse grades and improved upon them in _ with gcse grades and improved upon them in higher—level results, is really— them in higher—level results, is really reassuring. it shows that, in an exam _ really reassuring. it shows that, in an exam situation, they really pull it at the _ an exam situation, they really pull it at the back. is a day for pride and a _ it at the back. is a day for pride and a lot— it at the back. is a day for pride and a lot of— it at the back. is a day for pride and a lot of excitement for their futures — and a lot of excitement for their futures. ~ . . and a lot of excitement for their futures. n, . ., ~ and a lot of excitement for their futures. n, . ., ,, , ., , and a lot of excitement for their futures. . ., ,. , ., , . futures. match, thank you very much indeed. futures. match, thank you very much indeed- we — futures. match, thank you very much indeed. we should _ futures. match, thank you very much indeed. we should say, _ futures. match, thank you very much indeed. we should say, if _ futures. match, thank you very much indeed. we should say, if you - futures. match, thank you very much indeed. we should say, if you have l indeed. we should say, if you have people in your family who are expecting, you have got their exam results, and they weren't quite what they wanted, the bbc news website and app has a large page with a lot of helpful advice. at 2pm they are going to be taking your questions as well. . ~ going to be taking your questions as well. . ,, , ., going to be taking your questions as well. . ~' , ., , going to be taking your questions as well. . ,, y., , . well. thank you very much indeed. let's return — well. thank you very much indeed. let's return to _ well. thank you very much indeed. let's return to a _ well. thank you very much indeed. let's return to a guest _ well. thank you very much indeed. let's return to a guest who - well. thank you very much indeed. let's return to a guest who is - let's return to a guest who is joining us here at bbc news as we remember sir michael parkinson, who has died at the age of 88. gloria hunniford was a lifelong friend and also his wife. when did you first come across michael? i also his wife. when did you first come across michael?— come across michael? i think professionally _ come across michael? i think professionally really - come across michael? i think professionally really i - come across michael? i think professionally really i first. come across michael? i think i professionally really i first came across him, of course, and then over the years, i interviewed him, he interviewed me, and he very kindly had me on his television programme, which of course was a landmark for me, and even one of my sons came along to walk down the stairs before the programme began, to know what it was like to walk down those stairs, legendary, the best in the business, what i loved about him more than anything, was the fact that, not only was he the most brilliant interviewer, he was the most brilliant listener. that is why he got so much out of all of his guests. i really feel sad, because i don't know how i for i got the first time around when i lost sand, but naively, i always felt he would always be there. i can't help but feel very sad today. on the other hand, there is such a supply of interviews, wonderful interviews, world—class, and i heard you saying earlier on that there are 2000 interviews, probably all really remarkable. ifeel that, interviews, probably all really remarkable. i feel that, although sadly michael has passed from this life, i actually think that, going forward, we will be seeing a lot of michael on the telly because there is such a bank and wealth of material. aha, is such a bank and wealth of material-— is such a bank and wealth of material. a lot of people are talkin: material. a lot of people are talking about _ material. a lot of people are talking about his _ material. a lot of people are j talking about his generosity, material. a lot of people are i talking about his generosity, his authenticity, in making him so unique. when it comes to working in this industry, and engaging with his audience, what exactly do we mean by that, and how is it that michael... was it natural to him, did he work on it? did he develop? i just was it naturalto him, did he work on it? did he develop? i 'ust think that he was— on it? did he develop? i 'ust think that he was an i on it? did he develop? ijust think that he was an all-round - on it? did he develop? ijust think that he was an all-round person. l on it? did he develop? ijust think. that he was an all-round person. his that he was an all—round person. his passion for cricket, his passion for music, his passion for people, and his kindness. i give you one example. when my daughter, caron, died, she was writing two books and ifinish them off died, she was writing two books and i finish them off and amalgamated them. that is when i was asked to go on his television programme. when i look back on it, it was a dream for me. i neverthought look back on it, it was a dream for me. i never thoughti look back on it, it was a dream for me. i never thought i would be down those stairs. after the show he said, if you ever want me to do a theatre show, including clips from my programmes, to raise money for your foundation, my programmes, to raise money for yourfoundation, i will my programmes, to raise money for your foundation, i will do my programmes, to raise money for yourfoundation, i will do it. my programmes, to raise money for yourfoundation, iwill do it. he did, and many people would havejust said that and you never would have heard from them. almost immediately we held a great evening in windsor at one of the theatres there, and it helped to raise money for the foundation. he is always caring about people and one step ahead, as to how he would help. itjust demonstrates, not only his talent for a chat show, but his talent for music. we had a great show on radio two on sundays and the luxury he had, because i didn't have the luxury, we had to go by a preset list of music, michael got to choose his music for sunday morning, and he championed people like jamie collum, because he said that that boy was really talented. he championed other people. when you talk to dickie bird about cricket, the extreme passion for cricket was there. and he was a good yorkshireman on top of that. he was an all—rounder and he was interested in people. if i have time, i will tell you one other thing. when i say we use to meet in sohoin thing. when i say we use to meet in soho in london every monday, it was only to watch movies. i was doing a chat show at the same time, and we had to watch the film of the person we were interviewing. this time he said to me, who have you got, and i said to me, who have you got, and i said i have robert mitcham. i was excited. he told me to do my homework. i said excited. he told me to do my homework. isaid i excited. he told me to do my homework. i said i always do my homework. i said i always do my homework and he said to do triple. he was right, i did triple, he was very kind to people. i haven't seen him in recent years, and when i did see him on the television he was looking frail, but ijust thought he would make it and he would go on. i am sad today, and i send all my love to his family because they are wonderful, strong family. it is interesting — wonderful, strong family. it is interesting the _ wonderful, strong family. it is interesting the number, like you said, over2000 interesting the number, like you said, over 2000 celebrities, personalities, it is not always about celebrities, it is personalities and individuals, that he interviewed. i apologise about the noise. what is it that made these individuals want to travel to come and see him, and to be interviewed by him, whereas these days, i think it is fair to say that people are running away the interview. i people are running away the interview— people are running away the interview. ., , ., ., interview. i hope i am not running away from — interview. i hope i am not running away from you! — interview. i hope i am not running away from you! certainly - interview. i hope i am not running away from you! certainly wasn't. i j away from you! certainly wasn't. i just think because he was such a legend and people were proud, and they were... for my own point of view i was amazed that i was going to be on the programme. he was a bit like 0prah to be on the programme. he was a bit like oprah winfrey and america. if she interviews anybody, the record gets to the top of the charts of the book gets to number one. michael was the same as that. people just loved him and they listened to him. i said it earlier on, it is really key point of his character. he was a wonderful listener, because you do find sometimes with interviewers, they fired a question and then they are looking down at notes. he never did that. he never took his eyes of the person and he listened to every word. you learn something about the interviewee. ijust word. you learn something about the interviewee. i just thought that was amazing. in northern ireland where i lived, we went to the cinema all the time when i was growing up because there was nothing else to do. i couldn't believe that michael parkinson had these hollywood names in his studio, facing him, and he was talking to them. it was the excitement, i loved it.- was talking to them. it was the excitement, i loved it. gloria, i am bein: told excitement, i loved it. gloria, i am being told we _ excitement, i loved it. gloria, i am being told we need _ excitement, i loved it. gloria, i am being told we need to _ excitement, i loved it. gloria, i am being told we need to wrap - excitement, i loved it. gloria, i am being told we need to wrap up i excitement, i loved it. gloria, i am being told we need to wrap up the | being told we need to wrap up the interview. i'm going to be very naughty. you mentioned music awards and i know you attended with his wife, mary, in 2005. public and private michael parkinson, tella something new about him? mara; private michael parkinson, tella something new about him? mary had her own show— something new about him? mary had her own show in _ something new about him? mary had her own show in the _ something new about him? mary had her own show in the afternoon i something new about him? mary had her own show in the afternoon at i something new about him? mary hadj her own show in the afternoon at one point and so that is how i got to know mary, on television. they are a really strong family. i just think they are amazing and i know how much michael will be missed within the family structure. he does leave just such a legacy and i am very proud, actually, to have met him and known him and talk to in.— him and talk to in. gloria, thank ou ve him and talk to in. gloria, thank you very much- _ him and talk to in. gloria, thank you very much. you _ him and talk to in. gloria, thank you very much. you have - him and talk to in. gloria, thank. you very much. you have probably saved myjob by finishing on time! thank you very much indeed. that was a happy note, as gloria hunniford remembered herfriend and colleague, sir michael parkinson, who has died today at the age of 88. this is bbc news. live from london. this is bbc news. tributes are paid to the tv chat show legend — sir michael parkinson — who has died aged 88. more than 60 migrants are feared dead — after their boat is found drifting off cape verde in west africa. more than 100 people are arrested in pakistan after muslim crowds burned churches over claims that christians damaged a copy of the quran. and hundreds of thousands of students in england, wales and northern ireland receive their end of school exam grades. hello, welcome to bbc news now. we start here in the uk where tributes have been paid to the tv talk show host and journalist sir michael parkinson. his family said he died peacefully at home. he was 88. sir michael interviewed hundreds of the world's top stars of entertainment and sport — including muhamed ali, 0rson wells and meg ryan. david sillito looks back at his life. don't you get fed up of each other? oh, yes, yes. i call him golden balls, you know, now. - did you ever say, "you dirty rat?" never. jimmy cagney. orson welles. jimmy stewart. these were distant, mysterious screen gods until parkinson brought them into your living room. the fact is that you're a crowd puller and frazier�*s not, is he? why is that? well, number one, he's ugly.