Michael Parkinson was left emotional after rewatching his favourite interview of all time - which took place 47 years ago.
The TV broadcasting legend celebrated his unmatched career with a special celebrating 50 years of his talk show on Saturday night.
Looking back at the 650 episodes, 2,000 guests and notable highlights that have made him a national treasure, Parkinson revealed which interviewee was his favourite.
Surprisingly, the 86-year-old marked a chat with an emotional renowned scientist as above and beyond his other interviewees.
Speaking to the camera, he said: “The question I'm always asked is, what was my favourite interview.
"Well it's an impossible question, and the answer I give always surprises.
“It was with a man called Dr Jacob Bronowski. A renowned scientist who created that towering achievement of television documentary making, The Ascent of Man.”
Showing a clip of the moment, which originally aired in 1974, Parkinson is enraptured as the then 66-year-old Bronowski spoke about his groundbreaking documentary.
The 13-part series explores the science behind human development in both positive and negative ways.
In one particularly moving episode, the Polish-British academic visits Auschwitz concentration camp, where a number of his family members lost their lives to the Nazi regime.
It was the emotional moment that cemented Bronowski in Parkinson’s mind as one of the defining interviews of his career.
“I almost dare not say what I have to say that this is my favourite interview,” Parkinson explained to the camera. “Of course, I can only watch it now and feel the tears.
“It was one man’s account of the horror of what Nazi Germany did to the Jews, and it is profoundly moving because he is such an extraordinary man.”
“The thought is so simple,” he continued, choking up. "So profound that I find it difficult to remember it without tearing it up as I'm doing it now.
"But I don't mind that. I think you should be aware of moments like that, which change your life, or change your perception of something.
"Just the utter simplicity of that idea, said as it was by him, standing in this awful place was a moment in my life I shall never forget."
Parkinson’s self-titled talk show launched in 1971 for a year, before being revived in 1998 and lasting through to 2007.
It remains an iconic staple of British chat show television history, with his style of interviewing paving the way for other chat shows like Graham Norton.
The special episode left viewers emotional at the groundbreaking work that he has achieved in his career.
The film saw Michael review some of his most memorable career moments and recall speaking to various famous faces over the years from all walks of life, from boxing legend Muhammed Ali to actress Dame Helen Mirren and comedian Billy Connelly.
While not always being positive about how he handled the chats, Parkinson offered an honest assessment of his career.
*Parkinson at 50 is available now on BBC iPlayer
