BBC News Online: Entertainment

Parkinson's Saturday comeback

Parkinson is moving from Friday to the weekend spot he occupied throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, when he established himself as the king of the celebrity interview.

His show's new slot begins on 21 October. The move is part of the new-look BBC One line-up, prompted by the move of the main evening news bulletin from nine to 10 o'clock.

Parkinson, 65, expressed his approval at the schedule change for his programme.

"I'm delighted it's going out on Saturdays. It's where the show traditionally should be," he said.

'Pinnacle'

Parkinson's first weekend guests will be film-maker Richard Attenborough, former England cricket captain Ian Botham and Canadian singer kd lang.

Pop star Robbie Williams and England footballer David Beckham will be among the guests appearing later in the series.

A spokeswoman for the show said: "It's going to be the pinnacle of the Saturday night schedule."

Journalist Parkinson first hosted his celebrity interview TV show in 1971.

Since then has welcomed hundreds of stars to BBC Television Centre in west London, including many legendary names such as Mohammed Ali and the late Oliver Reed and Richard Burton.

Despite his popularity, Parkinson's show disappeared from the schedule in 1982, only to return in 1998 - in a Friday night slot.

The current series has been pulling in audiences again, with up to eight million viewers per show.

This Friday's edition includes British rower Steve Redgrave, fresh from his gold medal glory at the Sydney Olympics.