Michael Parkinson on Helen Mirren ‘sex queen’ interview: ‘There is no need to apologise’

The former chat show host sparked a sexism row after his 1975 clash with the actress 
Clash: Michael Parkinson interviewing Helen Mirren in 1975
BBC
Jennifer Ruby21 November 2016
The Weekender

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Michael Parkinson has insisted that there is ‘no need to apologise’ to Helen Mirren for calling her a ‘sex queen’ back in 1975.

The veteran broadcaster, who famously clashed with the Oscar-winner after asking her about her ‘equipment’ on his chat show, has said that he has no intention of building bridges.

Speaking to Event Magazine 40 years after the interview, the 81-year-old said:

“She presented a provocative figure as she walked down the stairs carrying a feather boa, half dressed as I recall, with love and hate tattooed onto her knuckles. I would not have done my duty as a human being had I not reacted in a certain way.

"I mean, we didn't like each other. We have not done much since to repair the damage, but that sometimes happens in life.”

When asked if he’d be keen to make amends with the Dame, Parkinson said: “I don't want to. Nor does she.

Dame Helen Mirren on the red capret at the 2016 SAG Awards 
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

“I don't regard what happened as being anything other than good television. There is no need to apologise, not at all.”

The clash between Parkinson and Mirren prompted a sexism row after he introduced her to the audience as the ‘sex queen’ of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

He then told her that she was “in quotes, a serious actress” before asking her if her “equipment” undermined her credibility.

A shocked Mirren asked him: “Serious actresses can't have big bosoms, is that what you mean?”

Speaking about the interview, Mirren recently told the Telegraph: “That’s the first talk show I’d ever done. I was terrified. I watched it and I actually thought, b***** hell!

“I did really well. I was so young and inexperienced. And he was such a f****** sexist old fart. He was. He denies it to this day that it was sexist, but of course he was.”

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