Michael Parkinson, largely regarded as Britain’s chat show king, died at the age of 88.

Parkinson died “peacefully at home last night” following a brief illness, his family announced in a statement to the BBC on Thursday.

Parkinson’s career featured interviews with Muhammed Ali, David Bowie, and John Lennon, among others. His chat programme, titled “Parkinson,” debuted on the BBC in June 1971 and ran successfully until 1982.

The show was reintroduced on the BBC in 1998 and became an instant smash. It was subsequently moved to commercial competitor ITV in 2004 and lasted until 2007.

Parkinson, often known as Parky, was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2008. He stated, “I never expected to be knighted — I thought there was more chance of me turning into a Martian really.”

Among the luminaries he interviewed were Fred Astaire, Jimmy Cagney, and Orson Welles.

He opened up about being diagnosed with prostate cancer following a regular health check in 2013.

He and his wife Mary, whom he married in 1959, have three kids.

Jerry Moss, co-founder of A&M Records and music business titan, died at the age of 88.