such as david bowie and paul mccartney. and in 2001 victoria beckham let slip that her nickname for husband david was "goldenballs". 0ur arts correspondent 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. his interviews with muhammad ali were unmissable. he has no rhythm, no footwork, no class. he cannot talk. and who told him he could sing? but of all those 2000 or so guests, one always haunted him. i interviewed everybody from henry kissinger to billy connolly to james cagney to dame edith evans, all those people. and i'm only remembered for one thing, i was attacked by a sodding emu. he's not aggresive! rod hull and emu rather punctured the suave tv persona. i knew we should never have booked it. of course, there wasn't much hollywood glamour in the childhood of this son of a yorkshire miner. my generation was the first that actually challenged the assumption that if you're born into a mining family, you followed your dad's footsteps down to the pit. his escape was journalism, which took him to granada tv. ladies and gentlemen, miss shirley maclaine. and then, in 1971, the parkinson show. i hope i can get away with this, it's a beauty. it was a programme that could transform a career. it's a substitute for tattoos, i'm frightened to get a tattoo. billy connolly appeared 15 times. about the oyster that went to a discotheque and pulled a mussel! they became good friends. i said, i need somewhere to park my bike. but others... let's talk about nudity. ..especially some women, were rather less comfortable in his company. do you find, in fact, that this what could be best described as your equipment, in fact, hinders you, perhaps, in that pursuit? you're wary of journalists. i mean, does it give you an insight into what they're after? now that i'm wary of them? yes, you are wary ofjournalists. you're wary of me, you're wary of the interview, you don't like being interviewed. you can see it in the way that you sit and the way you are. true. in other words, if you were me, what would you do now? well, just wrap it up. in the 805, he was briefly part of the ill—fated gang of five who launched itv�*s new breakfast programme, before returning to the bbc to present desert island discs and a programme on radio 2. and then reviving the parkinson show. he's a practicing homeopath, as a matter of fact. there were moments, but it was nowjust one of many chat shows on an interview circuit... pretty sure that's what he said he wanted. ..where everyone seemed to have something to sell. right. play forward. well played. well done. 0ffscreen, he loved his cricket, always a proud yorkshireman. one day, there'll be some research into the benefit of this magnificent food, soul food for yorkshiremen. and at the end, it was his father's very yorkshire judgment that came to mind. just before he died, he said to me, he said, "you've done well and you met some big stars." i said, i had. he said, "you made a bob or too without breaking sweat." i admitted that was also true. "good lad," he said, "but think on. "it's not like playing for yorkshire, is it?" it wasn't. but once or twice, it got pretty damn close. goodnight. and david joins us now. i grew igrew up i grew up on parkinson's interviews and there are many around the world who may not know as much about him, so what made him so special as an interviewer?— interviewer? let's go to the heart ofthe interviewer? let's go to the heart of the matter- — interviewer? let's go to the heart of the matter. there _ interviewer? let's go to the heart of the matter. there are - interviewer? let's go to the heart i of the matter. there are thousands and thousands of interviews that have taken place on tv over the last 60 years but today how many people have talked about and mentioned an interview they remember from his time? one of the reasons is that it was an extraordinary moment, towards the end of the 60s, start of the 70s, a lot of the great hollywood stars who had seen farnon —— who had seemed far distant mythical figures, they were free to go on tv, out of contract, and suddenly there was a moment when michael parkinson would say, ladies and gentlemen, fred astaire. fred astaire was someone he had grown up watching, in a top hat, and that he was at the top of the steps. betty davis, 0rson and that he was at the top of the steps. betty davis, orson welles, jimmy cagney, jimmy stewart, these were people who know one really in the audience had heard them talking about their lives and they were absolutely riveted. when david niven began to take his anecdotes about behind the scenes of hollywood people were riveted and they had not heard this before. this was event television. 0rson heard this before. this was event television. orson welles, he said, forget the questions, let's just talk. the programme went all the way through to interviewing bette midler, you needed somebody who could go from serious journalism talk about highbrow topics to having a laugh and rolling around on the set with emu. you needed somebody of the calibre of michael parkinson who was a very talented interviewer. he started early in television and learned the skills and there was the magical moment in the 70s when these people were here waiting to be spoken to and it was late night, just originally a filler programme for the bbc during the dog days of summer, it was open—ended, sometimes it went on a bit longer than it should have done in the schedule but it was a free and easy time. tv magic, that is what happened. muhammad ali, 0rson magic, that is what happened. muhammad ali, orson welles, kenneth williams, the comedian, talking that his views about the unions, these are things which are stuck in the minds of people. if you wanted to have a pretty good summation of popular cultural history of the last 50 years, you could pretty much start with the parkinson programme in the 19705. start with the parkinson programme in the 1nos-— in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for “oininu in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for joining us- _ in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for joining us- if— in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for joining us. if you _ in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for joining us. if you want _ in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for joining us. if you want to - in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for joining us. if you want to look. in the 1970s. indeed. thanks for joining us. if you want to look at some of sir michael parkinson's most famous interviews, we have a selection on the bbc news website and also some other stories with more of the tributes and it is worth watching some of his greatest interviews. to west africa, where more than 60 migrants are presumed dead after their boat was found drifting off cape verde. it's thought they were trying to reach the spanish canary islands. the boat was found about 300km from cape verde. it's believed almost all those on board came from senegal. 38 people, including children, were rescued and brought ashore on the island of sal. officials in senegal said they were making arrangements to bring survivors home. they are the lucky ones. these survivors were spotted in a wooden boat near cape verde by a spanish fishing vessel and they had spent a month at sea. three of mahmoud's siblings and his cousin were on the boat. his 24—year—old brother died. they both tried making the journey together earlier this year. translation: one of my brothers called to say - another brother was dead. i was shocked because we were close and he was a fighter. he was married and had two kids. a booming population, crumbling economies and growing insecurity is pushing thousands of young people to leave west africa. as the legal means of accessing europe tighten, many of them are turning to dangerous, illegal routes in search of a better life. the atlantic migration route from the coast of west africa to the canary islands is often used by african migrants to reach spain, especially in the summer. but it is one of the world's deadliestjourneys. translation: it comes with a lot of pain, yes, i but we know that immigration issues are global issues which require international cooperation, a lot of discussion and a global strategy. until such a solution is found, young people like mahmoud says he will keep trying to reach europe despite the risks. myenijones, lagos. rishi sunak has spoken to saudi arabia's crown prince and prime minister mohammed bin salman on thursday after confirmation that the gulf leader has been invited to visit the uk. the visit is likely to be in october, though no official date has been set yet — and it could prompt sharp criticism. it would be the first visit since the murder ofjournalist jamal khashoggi at the saudi consulate in istanbul in 2018. us intelligence agencies concluded that the prince must have authorised the killing, despite him denying any involvement. live now to westminster and our political correspondent damian grammaticas. first of all, what more do we know about the phone call? it first of all, what more do we know about the phone call?— about the phone call? it happened earlier today _ about the phone call? it happened earlier today between _ about the phone call? it happened earlier today between rishi - about the phone call? it happened earlier today between rishi sunak| earlier today between rishi sunak and the crown prince mohammed bin salman and we have the readout which you get from downing street which they hand out, the official press briefing and it does not tell you exactly what happened but it gives an idea and essentially it says the two men discussed the deepening of economic ties between the two and we know rishi sunak said he looked forward to personally deepening those ties and discussed their commitment to trade and investment relationships, deepening that, and what that amounts to is a few things, a long—standing security partnership with saudi arabia and a large amount of uk arms sold to saudi arabia which is big business for the uk and saudi energy supplies, the biggest oil exporter, and the uk are a big buyer of energy. we also saw borisjohnson going to meet mohammed bin salman to discuss diversifying energy supply away from russia and also saudi arabia has huge amounts of money earned from its energy sales, oil and gas, which it is looking to invest around the world and the uk would like a bit of that. all of thatis would like a bit of that. all of that is in the discussion but what they do not confirm is the actual visit but the bbc has been told that thatis visit but the bbc has been told that that is lined up for october although no specific date yet. the visit will not _ although no specific date yet. the visit will not come without controversy because there is huge concerns over the human rights record of saudi arabia.- concerns over the human rights record of saudi arabia. exactly. the murder of the _ record of saudi arabia. exactly. the murder of the journalist _ record of saudi arabia. exactly. the murder of the journalist jamal - murder of the journalist jamal khashoggi took place in the saudi consulate, diplomatic premises, in turkey, in istanbul, and jamal khashoggi went there to seek a visa to travel to saudi arabia and he had been a long—standing critic of saudi arabia and it is believed that he was murdered by a special squad of saudi agents who dismembered his body and it disposed of it and the us believes that was ordered by the crown prince which has led to a freeze in relations and that is one reason that this would be a pretty controversial visit. amnesty international say a much more principled approach to saudi arabia is needed and the liberal democrats in the uk have said it beggars belief that rishi sunak is rolling out the red carpet for this man who authorised the brutal murder of jamal khashoggi. the crown prince has denied any involvement and there has denied any involvement and there has been a prosecution of some saudis in saudi arabia relating to that killing but the labour party have said that while it is important that the prime minister, if the crown prince comes here, speaks to him about human rights, it says part of the role is to challenge other nations and if you do not do that you do not have any influence at all. i'm sure others may say that building closer ties and seeking to challenge people was an approach that has been taken with other countries and how much does it have an impact here? you can point to russia and china, for example. this will be a controversial visit if and when it does happen.— when it does happen. thanks for “oininu when it does happen. thanks for joining us- _ around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. school staff in 10 scottish local authority areas say they'll go on strike on 13 and 1a september. gmb scotland's members — which includes non—teaching school staff — rejected a pay offer of 5.5% in april, calling it "unacceptable". the union said the offer "does not come close" to matching the surging cost of living. the family of a pregnant woman killed by a speeding driver have welcomed a decision to have his 12—year prison sentence reviewed by the court of appeal. frankiejules—hough died, along with her unborn daughter, when adil iqbal crashed into her car shortly after he'd filmed himself driving at 123 miles per hour. an mp has told a public meeting he will pursue a law granting better protection for heritage venues — after the demolition of the 18th century crooked house pub after a fire. about 100 people attended the meeting about what had happened to the pub in dudley. it was destroyed less than two days after the fire. the fire is being treated as arson. you're live with bbc news. the proportion of students getting top a—level grades in england, wales and northern ireland has fallen sharply from 12 months ago — but remains higher than pre—pandemic levels. today's results show 27.2% of exams were given an a or an a—star — down more than nine percentage points on last year. the biggest fall was in england, where ministers had said they wanted to return to pre—pandemic marking standards more quickly. frances read has more details. for the students opening their exam results today, this has been a long road. having received teacher assets grades for their gcses in the pandemic. it was quite tough. we were the final year to not do formal exams, so it was quite a push, really. there is a wider plan to bring grades back to pre—pandemic levels after a spike of good results through 2020 and 2021. this year, the overall pass grade has dropped a percentage point from last year, standing atjust over 97%. but the drop in top grades is being felt more keenly in england, showing a disparity between the nations. top grades in england are only about 1% higher than before the pandemic. unlike in wales and northern ireland, where they are still 7—8% higher. but 0fqual has reassured students there is protection built into the grading process even if they didn't perform as well in their exams. we worked hand—in—hand with universities over a two—year period, to make sure students would be treated fairly. universities are used to working with 700 different types of qualifications. they can absolutely cope with the differences in the devolved quality. it is celebrations for those who did their btec and also t—level, a relatively new qualification which gives entry to higher education in things like digital skills, health and construction. students in blackpool were among the 97% of t—level students who have received at least one university offer. more than half of 18—year—olds don't apply to university, but for those who do want to go, it is about ensuring they are not unfairly disadvantaged. the pandemic has widened the attainment gap for those on the lowest incomes in the uk. more than 16,500 students who had free school meals have been accepted into university, but ucas said the data proves that there are still huge challenges for the most disadvantaged students. we don't set arbitrary targets of 50% go in and see who goes, we have been focused on making sure we have access to opportunity for those most disadvantaged. if you didn't get the grades you want or need, the advice is to speak to your university — they might still offer a course depending. and grades can be challenged, but there are 29,000 places available in clearing today, 3,000 more than last year. the post pandemic a—level students of 2023, whatever their grades, have lived through something few others can imagine. francis read, bbc news. now that the results are in — there's no shortage of options for students — and notjust going to university. let's talk to caroline williams, quality business partner at realise — the uk's apprenticeship provider. and ian elliot, who is a chief people 0fficer at consultants pwc. thanks forjoining us. ian, you offer apprenticeships and training for people once they have done their exams, so what is the benefit of that? , ., ., ., ., that? first of all, congratulations to the young _ that? first of all, congratulations to the young people _ that? first of all, congratulations to the young people receiving - to the young people receiving a—level and vocational qualifications today. it has been a very difficult period for everybody and also to the teachers who have helped them to get there. in terms of apprenticeships, we are increasingly seeing a lot of different routes opening up into the world of work for young people. apprenticeships for us are an important part of that and an opportunity for people from a variety of different backgrounds, especially lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and it is a great opportunity to develop skills much earlier in your career. that opportunity to develop skills much earlier in your career.— earlier in your career. at the moment _ earlier in your career. at the moment there _ earlier in your career. at the moment there is _ earlier in your career. at the moment there is a _ earlier in your career. at the moment there is a lot - earlier in your career. at the moment there is a lot of - moment there is a lot of conversation and people have their results to date will be wondering if they are going to university at least and whether they can afford that because of the costs of going to university. what about when it comes to an apprenticeship, what are the costs? we comes to an apprenticeship, what are the costs? ~ . , comes to an apprenticeship, what are the costs? ~ ., , .., the costs? we are very cognisant about the cost _ the costs? we are very cognisant about the cost of _ the costs? we are very cognisant about the cost of living _ the costs? we are very cognisant about the cost of living and - the costs? we are very cognisant about the cost of living and all i the costs? we are very cognisant about the cost of living and all ofj about the cost of living and all of our friendships are fully funded so they are earn as you learn so you join as an apprentice and you will be on a salary from the moment you join, at the same time you are learning skills. and also studying for a qualification. there are lots of those friendship opportunities available, at all sorts of different employers. available, at all sorts of different employee-— employers. caroline, you did an apprenticeship. _ employers. caroline, you did an apprenticeship, so _ employers. caroline, you did an apprenticeship, so tell- employers. caroline, you did an apprenticeship, so tell me - employers. caroline, you did an apprenticeship, so tell me howl employers. caroline, you did an - apprenticeship, so tell me how that set you up for what you are doing now? . ~ set you up for what you are doing now? ., ,, , ., set you up for what you are doing now? ., ,, i. ., ., ~ now? thank you for having me. and congratulations _ now? thank you for having me. and congratulations to _ now? thank you for having me. and congratulations to everybody - now? thank you for having me. and congratulations to everybody on - congratulations to everybody on getting — congratulations to everybody on getting their results today. i started _ getting their results today. i started off completing six form and iwent_ started off completing six form and i went to _ started off completing six form and i went to university but after the first year— i went to university but after the first year i— i went to university but after the first year i realised that was not the path — first year i realised that was not the path i — first year i realised that was not the path i wanted so i went on to do an apprenticeship in business and that led _ an apprenticeship in business and that led me on to purchasing my own house _ that led me on to purchasing my own house at— that led me on to purchasing my own house at the — that led me on to purchasing my own house at the age of 21 and becoming an apprenticeship trainer. that has seen _ an apprenticeship trainer. that has seen me _ an apprenticeship trainer. that has seen me working with one of the naturai— seen me working with one of the natural apprenticeship providers in england _ natural apprenticeship providers in england -- — natural apprenticeship providers in england —— national. i havejust compieted— england —— national. i havejust completed a recent apprenticeship which _ completed a recent apprenticeship which is _ completed a recent apprenticeship which is in — completed a recent apprenticeship which is in h r and consultants so apprenticeships have a real place to play in _ apprenticeships have a real place to play in getting people the right skills— play in getting people the right skills and knowledge and behaviours, to actually— skills and knowledge and behaviours, to actually develop their career. what _ to actually develop their career. what would you say to that? that is a treat what would you say to that? that is a great story _ what would you say to that? that is a great story and — what would you say to that? that is a great story and we _ what would you say to that? that is a great story and we have _ what would you say to that? that is a great story and we have got - what would you say to that? that is a great story and we have got a - a great story and we have got a number of those here with us, people who have joined number of those here with us, people who havejoined on apprenticeship schemes who have gone on to be incredibly successful. they are a great opportunity to develop skills earlier and increasingly employers are looking for potential and they are looking for potential and they are assessing candidates based on potential and what they could go on to achieve. academic results are important, i would to achieve. academic results are important, iwould not to achieve. academic results are important, i would not underplay that, but skills, a skills first approach is increasingly what employers are going to be adopting. a lot of people will be celebrating today and other people will be looking at the results they have got and wondering what they do next because they did not get what they wanted, so what would you say to them? do wanted, so what would you say to them? ., , , ., them? do not be disheartened. there is a lot of emphasis _ them? do not be disheartened. there is a lot of emphasis put _ them? do not be disheartened. there is a lot of emphasis put on _ them? do not be disheartened. there is a lot of emphasis put on grades - is a lot of emphasis put on grades and i_ is a lot of emphasis put on grades and i know— is a lot of emphasis put on grades and i know the reasons but apprenticeships play a big part in actually— apprenticeships play a big part in actually developing people and older people _ actually developing people and older people in_ actually developing people and older people in developing a career or a change _ people in developing a career or a change in — people in developing a career or a change in career. go on to the government website and look at apprenticeships in your region and apply— apprenticeships in your region and apply for— apprenticeships in your region and apply for those because we do look at the _ apply for those because we do look at the attributes people have and it is not _ at the attributes people have and it is not always about the grades on the piece — is not always about the grades on the piece of paper. to is not always about the grades on the piece of paper.— is not always about the grades on the piece of paper. to both of you, thanks forjoining _ the piece of paper. to both of you, thanks forjoining us. _ the piece of paper. to both of you, thanks forjoining us. to _ the piece of paper. to both of you, thanks forjoining us. to repeat - thanks forjoining us. to repeat what both of them said, congratulations to everyone who has got their results today. we have some breaking news. saudi officials have confirmed to bbc news that an invitation was issued to the crown prince mohammed bin salman earlier this year to visit london and it is not clear if he has formally accepted but it is known that he does want to come. as we have reported, from westminster, dates are being considered and they are in the first half of october so the news just coming in that saudi officials now confirming that an invitation was issued to saudi arabia's crown prince mohammed bin salman earlier this year to visit london. it is not clear if he has formally accepted the invitation but the statement says that he does want to come. the dates being considered are in the first half of october. we will have more on that story through the afternoon right here so do stay with us. hello there. although it's staying warm over the next few days, it will start to turn increasingly humid and we will start to see some thundery downpours pushing in off the atlantic. warm and humid for the next few days, a little sunshine here and there, but an increasing threat of thundery downpours, thanks to this area of low pressure. high pressure is anchored to the east of the uk. that is bringing a fresh south—easterly wind, tapping into the warm air off the continent, but the humidity will increase over the next few days. through the rest of this afternoon there will be variable cloud. some sunshine and the risk ofjust one or two showers for northern england and into scotland. most places should be dry. temperatures reaching highs of around 2a, maybe 25 degrees in the south—east, given some good, sunny spells. as we head into this evening we start to see the first of a couple of weather fronts pushing into the south and west of the uk. winds are starting to increase as well through the night. we can see some thunderstorms mixed into this band of rain in the south. quite warm in the south, a little fresher further north. still we are in double figures across the board. for friday this first band of rain will be spreading northwards and eastwards. a line of thunderstorms perhaps embedded in it across england and wales. strong, gusty winds around the irish sea, especially north—west wales, gusts up to 60 miles an hour. for the northern half of the country, we should see the best of the conditions, with some sunny spells. because there is more cloud around and showers, temperatures reach highs of around 23. humidity will increase. on friday we see a more active band of thundery rain spreading northwards across england and wales and northern ireland, and that will be across scotland as we start saturday morning. again some thundery rain which will tend to clear away, and then it is a bright day, with sunshine and showers. most of the showers will be across western areas, quite blustery in the north and west. temperatures coming down here, and very slowly, the humidity will drop across the south—east. we could have up to 25 or 26 degrees again. sunday, a similar story. a blustery day in the north and west, with sunshine and showers. most of the showers in the north and west, dry across central, southern and eastern areas. those temperatures close to the mid 20s. less humidity, i think, for all areas by this point. as we head into next week it could turn very warm for a time across south—east england. further north and west we hold onto that theme of sunshine and showers. this is bbc news. the headlines... saudi arabia's crown prince mohammed bin salman is invited to the uk. there's sharp criticism of the plan — over the gulf state's human rights record. tributes are paid to the tv chat show legend — sir michael parkinson — who has died aged 88. and a new conservation plan is launched — in the lake district to protect the population of water voles. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. the women's world cup final is edging closer — with england and spain contesting the showpiece event. the lionnesses beat the co—hosts australia on wednesday... sarina wiegman's side are the current european champions too — and a first world cup would continue to grow the game back home. it would be a phenomenal achievement if we do manage to win. it would be one of our most successful sporting competitions ever. and the us they have huge strength and depth of athletes. being here, giving ourselves the opportunity to when it's ourselves the opportunity to when its huge. it would be a huge boost to have equal opportunities for girls to play in clubs and schools. until we have the same number of girls playing than boys, we have a job to do. sunday's opponents, spain, meanwhile enjoyed their first training session since arriving in australia, following their 2—1