Today the legendary TV interviewer Sir Michael Parkinson celebrates his 86th birthday, and later this year BBC One will be marking the 50th anniversary of the show that made his name, as Sir Michael takes a trip down memory lane in Parkinson at 50 (1x60')

For the first time ever, Sir Michael has been able to look back over the archive of his interviews with some of the most culturally influential people of the late 20th Century and curate this special retrospective of the show that for many defined their Saturday night viewing

Sir Michael Parkinson says: "When you reach my age birthdays are greeted with more of a sense of relief than celebration but this year will be different because 50 years ago a much younger Michael Parkinson was celebrating his 36th birthday and looking forward to starting a new show for the BBC. Little would he have known then that he would end up hosting over 650 shows and interviewing over 2000 of the good and the great.

"Parkinson at Fifty is my story of an unlikely journey from a pit village in South Yorkshire to the top of the Parkinson stairs. It provides a ringside seat opposite some of the biggest names in showbusiness and beyond, an insight into the interviewers lot as well as an honest assessment of my time as the host of what for me was the best job in the world."

Kate Phillips, Acting Controller, BBC One, says: "What better way for Sir Michael Parkinson to celebrate his 86th birthday than to take a very special look back at 50 years of Parkinson. Since walking down those famous steps back in 1971, Sir Michael has interviewed more than 2000 of the world’s most famous people and made such a huge impact on the interview genre."

Parkinson at 50 is a Parkinson Production for BBC One. It was commissioned by Kate Phillips, Acting Controller, BBC One and Jo Wallace, Acting Controller Entertainment Commissioning. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Rachel Ashdown. The Director is Ian Denyer and the Executive Producers are Mike Parkinson and Lucy Ansbro.

Transmission details for Parkinson at 50 will be announced in due course.