Classic Parkinson: 1979 - Union Leader Jimmy Reid, Billy Connolly, and Lauren Bacall

Possibly one of the more unlikely guest combinations, although it seems to work quite well as a fascinating time-capsule, with topics ranging from Robbie Burns, Billy Connolly working with Richard Burton, to some personal Hollywood history from Lauren Bacall, including on anti-Semitism and attitudes to women.
All three had appeared previously. Jimmy Reid, who had gained international recognition for the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders 'work-in', featured in a famous extended debate with Kenneth Williams in 1973. Link to that episode here;
• Kenneth Williams and J...
Billy Connolly's 'country-and-western' party piece, 'Old Seaside Town Far Away', is at 1:01:01
#jimmyreid #billyconnolly #laurenbacall #michaelparkinson #interviews

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

RIP PARKY. Michael Parkinson has passed away, August 16th, 2023, aged 88. 🙏

[@stevehermitofficial]

🙏

[@anguscoleman5876]

Billy, no words needed. My introduction to Jimmy Reid and what an impressively honest and articulate man. I jumped straight on google and bought his biography. Lauren Bacall, they don’t make movie stars like that anymore. Parky, a master interviewer and gentleman always.
This video put a great smile on my face. Thank you.

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

Thanks for commenting, and I'm very glad you enjoyed the upload.

[@johnmcfarlane748]

jimmy reid sits down and begins speaking , and everybody listens , remarkable verbal fluidity , straight from the hip. Brilliant.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Jimmy Reid a brilliant speaker and man. Listen to the audience virtually silent just listening

[@Erdnase23]

Jimmy Reid. What an amazing orator. Self-taught.

[@conniekampas7074]

I wish there were more interviews with Parkinson. He is adorable polite and does a terrific job letting his guests speak their thoughts. Delightful. Bring on more please! Excellent Thank you so much. Parkinson never fails!!

[@EmptyGlass99]

Lauren Bacall is pure class. She was true to her word, never had any 'work' done and was as striking at 89 as she was at 18.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Spot on

[@johnkochen7264]

There is an undeniable (and very understandable) rift between the English and the Scots but Parkinson lets his guests say their piece, does not constantly interrupt like they do nowadays, and shows nothing but respect. His guests react in kind. Parkinson was a legend.

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

Yes, I'm a Parky fan myself, for the same reasons you mentioned.

[@johnking5174]

@@GeorgeFairbrother His type of talk show simply does not exist anymore on British TV. Just think of the simplicity of his show. Three guests, getting around 20 minutes each for a proper interview. No monologues, comedy sketches, satire etc. Just pure interviews.

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

@@johnking5174 Exactly, and the show was all about the guests, not the host.

[@alwhyte6533]

@@GeorgeFairbrother He was the best. No self promotion, yet became so famous while not promoting himself at all. His massive talent and warmth shine through and carry the format of the show. Truly the best of all the talk shows...imagine James Corden doing this? No way! Couldn't keep his mouth shut long enough to let the guests talk, would be talking about himself all the time.

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

@@alwhyte6533 That's is very very well put, I totally agree. Also, I always found that even if you had never heard of the person Parky had on, you would still end up being riveted by the conversation. I also thought Mavis Nicholson on Thames was very good for the same reasons, and more recently Kirsty Young when she was on Desert Island Discs.

[@deborahrobertson8606]

This is the quality of entertainment that I remember as a child. It was wonderful!!!

[@johnbrand1893]

Great 👍 guests on the show, and masterly interviewed by Parkinson. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@loisheuer8772]

Loved Parky here in the USA. Wonderful interviewer, best ever, Rest In Peace we will miss you. very much.

[@HeavyH2006]

Indeed Jimmy Reid a greatly well versed man of Scottish thought and life. Remarkable. His recitals are wonderful and his perspective of Scottish myths and embellishments is a sure man of letters. A great trio of guests. Credit to Parkinson’s conversational pace & enquiry. A treasured watch. Thank you!

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

Thanks for commenting, and I'm very glad you enjoyed it. They certainly don't make telly like that anymore, but then the calibre of guest these days is not quite the same. Maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy. :))

[@teterouge1472]

Lovely, Parkie, Billy, Lauren and the man, the star..... Jiiiiiiimy Reeeeeed!. Oh for a man of such integrity, honesty, grit......

[@alwhyte6533]

Mick Lynch is holding those greedy Tory bumlickers to account now!

[@ThefightingCelt]

Jimmy Reid was a very knowledgeable man and proud of his working class roots. He ditched his communist leanings as he got older, and joined the Labour Party before becoming disillusioned and ended up becoming a member of the SNP, which by then had adopted socialist policies which sat easier with his beliefs.

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

Thanks for that perspective on Jimmy Reid's political journey. Fascinating.

[@Johnstone72]

Jimmy Reid, what a Man. Always good to hear his take on life.

[@garyhoward4216]

Jimmy Reid could hold his own in any company. High intelligence is not the sole preserve of the privately educated.

[@peterbartley1432]

Jimmy Reid, what a loss to society. He spoke with eloquence and honesty, I watched Billy Connolly speak at his funeral, very moving. Classic Parky!!

[@johnnty3]

what great company jimmy reid must have been could listen to him all night

[@AMRPK]

Billy & Jimmy sum up my thinking on national stereotypes and national/cultural holidays. Only the financial aspect is missing. In reality it is all that matters about such events.

[@NB-xq4qt]

can you imagine this in a talk show today.....Jimmy Reed such a man, such a real Scot.....more so than Connolly even

[@NB-xq4qt]

great man Jimmy Reed.....still stands today what he says

[@brianmarshall4753]

I used to watched Parkinson chat show in the seventies eighties nineties and noughties

[@davideldred.campingwilder6481]

Now, there's a politician that should have been PM, instead of who came that year...

[@radioandtvmemories6178]

I agree with you, and it would have been a very different (and better) country in many ways. Jimmy was actually the councillor for the area of the town in Scotland where I lived when I was a youngster. That was when he was still in the Communist Party, I think he left in about 1976

[@KidMillions]

"Is there a lot of anti-semitism in Hollywood?" That was a silly question.

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

I does seem a little naïve

[@radioandtvmemories6178]

I really enjoyed that

[@GeorgeFairbrother]

I'm very glad, and thanks for commenting

[@gusgus8134]

I so love me Billy Connolly ❤️

[@jonathaneffemey944]

RIP Parky

[@stuartscott5931]

A black girl didn't work?