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Sir Michael Parkinson said today he was “gutted” when producers of Who Do You Think You Are? told him his ancestors were too boring for him to take part in the TV show.
Researchers on the family history programme spent six weeks investigating the veteran interviewer's roots but failed to unearth anything of interest among the miners, labourers and domestic staff that make up his antecedents.
Writing in the Radio Times, the 74-year-old said he was a huge fan of the show.
“When Who Do You Think You Are? called and asked if I was interested, I said I would be delighted, but warned that my own research had unearthed nothing of note,” he wrote.
“Oh, they all say that. But we always find something,' they said.
“Six weeks later they phoned to apologise. My story was so boring they had to cancel the entire project. I was gutted.
“Of all the celebrity-based telly programmes, this was the only one I wanted to be on.”
The no-nonsense Yorkshireman came up with an unusual idea for a new quiz show. “What about Celebrity Firing Squad?” he wrote.
Contestants would be asked questions about other celebrity shows, he explained.
“At the end of the quiz the celebrities vote for the worst contestant, who is led out in front of a firing squad of volunteers made up of viewers.”
The full article can be read in the latest edition of the Radio Times, on sale today.
Reader views (4)
I think they should have made the programme. No-one is really boring, there are always interesting things about them. What age did his grandfathers go down the pit? Where were his grandmothers in service? At what age did they marry? Where did they live? IR Taylor is right though, I am afraid.
- Sue Rochester, London, 21/07/2009 14:42
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It´s not just his ancestors, it´s Parkinson himself. Boring, boring, BORING!
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 21/07/2009 13:25
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If you ask me Michael Parkinson was too boring to have his own chat show too (which always seemed to contain a fair number of his equally boring golfing buddies). Maybe this will bring him down a peg or two. We can only hope.
- M Farbiash, Highgate, 21/07/2009 13:17
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Too English and working class to be of interest to modern Britain.
- R.Taylor, London, 21/07/2009 10:07
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