Renowned British talk show host Sir Michael Parkinson is being remembered as "the king of the chat show" after his death, aged 88.
Parkinson's family said in a statement that he died at home following a brief illness.
BBC Director General Tim Davie said Parkinson "was the king of the chat show and he defined the format for all the presenters and shows that followed".
Michael Parkinson: A life in pictures
"He interviewed the biggest stars of the 20th century and did so in a way that enthralled the public. Michael was not only brilliant at asking questions, he was also a wonderful listener.
"Michael was truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed."
Sir David Attenborough, one of Parkinson's few equals in terms of British television renown and longevity, described him as "the best interviewer in the business".
"[He was] extremely professional, you knew he would know all the background and you didn't have to fill in anything," he told the BBC.
"You knew that he would do his homework and that he would ask questions that didn't occur to you.
"He was extremely generous, he wanted you to shine and would always laugh at your jokes and give you an opportunity to make them sound funnier than in fact they were."
Actor Matt Lucas called Parkinson "a titan of television, the ultimate chat show host".
"We'll never forget his brilliant interviews with Muhammad Ali, Dame Edna, Billy Connolly and, of course, 'that bloody emu'," the final guest a reference to his interview of British comedian Rod Hull who was a double act with an emu puppet, which harassed the host throughout the show.
Music superstar Elton John called the broadcaster a "TV legend who was one of the greats".
"I loved his company and his incredible knowledge of cricket and Barnsley Football Club. A real icon who brought out the very best in his guests. Condolences and love to Mary and his family," he said, on Instagram.
On the same World at One radio program as Attenborough, comedy legend and Monty Python member Michael Palin echoed those thoughts.
"He was a very good interviewer," Palin says. "He wanted to get people on his show who entertained him and therefore who he thought would entertain the audience."
Eddie Izzard described Parkinson as "the king of intelligent interview".
Actress Elaine Paige said "we will never see his like again".
Barnsley Football Club said "the town has lost one of its favourite sons, and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time".
Parkinson was also a noted cricket fan and once lightheartedly revealed despite all his success, his dad thought he was a failure because he didn't play for Yorkshire.
But the cricket world certainly doesn't consider him to be a failure, judging by the quantity of tributes flowing in from fans and former players.
Sir Geoffrey Boycott, who played with Parkinson at Barnsley Cricket Club before going on to open the batting for England, said he was once dropped in favour of the future TV star, who went on to make a century.
"I think he was the best interviewer on television because he liked people," Boycott told the Yorkshire Post, adding that Parkinson was a good cricketer.
"He actually listened to what they said.
"When Michael asked a question, he actually listened to the person's answer. He warmed to people, and they warmed to him."
International umpire Dickie Bird, who started playing cricket at Barnsley and went on to play for Yorkshire but not the national side, said there would never be another chat show host like Parkinson.
"There will never be anyone better than him in your lifetime, my lifetime or anyone else's lifetime," he said.
Parkinson had a strong connection to Australia and made deep impact on a large audience Down Under.
A long list of Australian media industry figures lined up to pay tribute.
Broadcaster Mike Carlton reminisced about his time on radio with Parkinson in London.
"Genial, enormous fun to be with, a miner's son, he hated snobbery and pretence. And had a large corner of his heart for Australia," he said, on X.
"There was no one quite like him."
Today Extra co-host David Campbell said watching Parkinson growing up was a Saturday night treat".
"He listened. He laughed. He was the master of interviewers. RIP to the greatest," he said.
Peter FitzSimons paid tribute to a "wonderful man", who was "a very engaging man over lunch and dinner!"
