Parkinson: 'ITV said I was too expensive'

Michael Parkinson has revealed that his long-running chatshow finished because ITV bosses thought he had become too expensive.

The 73-year-old brought the programme to an emotional end last November after more than 30 years.

Parkinson has now told The Radio Times that ITV Chairman Michael Grade said he cost too much.

"Michael Grade told me with a straight face that I was too expensive," he said.

"Shortly after, we were talking about guests for the final show and someone at ITV mentioned Liz Taylor. They said they would go up to £250,000. Barmy idea - and I was too expensive?

"But I don't want it to seem as though we left in an acrimonious fashion, because we didn't. I would have liked one more series, to be frank, but my time had come to leave. I knew that."

Parkinson began his BBC One chatshow in 1971 before switching to ITV in 2004 following a row with the corporation over scheduling.

After the final Parkinson aired, the host claimed that it had been the last remaining example of a true TV chatshow.