The much-loved chat-show host has died at the age of 88, with widespread tributes being paid to the Yorkshireman, including one from ex-Reds star Alex Stepney, who said: "I enjoyed several laughs with him over the years, [a] lovely guy and a master of his craft."
Sir Michael was also a great friend of Stepney's former team-mate George Best, after first meeting the Northern Irishman when he arrived in England as a teenager. The United icon was a guest on Parkinson's TV show and he wrote a book on the footballing genius.
"I met George when he was 16, when he first came to Manchester and I knew him until the day he died," he said.