Michael Parkinson’s interviews were deemed offensive by the ABC when they replayed the iconic talk show’s programs

The ABC last year warned viewers who wanted to watch old episodes of Michael Parkinson’s local television series that some of the content could offend them.

The national broadcaster replayed classic Parkinson’s programs to celebrate the broadcast’s 90th anniversary, but found some of the talk show host’s discussions with guests 40 years ago no longer acceptable.

Parkinson, who passed away at the age of 88 at his Berkshire home surrounded by his wife Mary and children, was as loved in Australia as he was in his homeland.

Sixteen of the 28 episodes of Parkinson In Australia shown between 1979 and 1982 were made available on ABC’s iView platform last year, but came with a written and spoken warning:

“The following program expresses attitudes that are inconsistent with current standards and may offend some viewers.”

In one of the apparently offensive episodes – all of which were rated PG – Parkinson interviewed current ABC chairman Ita Buttrose when she was editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly and Cleo.

The ‘viewer advice’ did not specify whether the presenter – or which guests – were likely to be offensive in each program or what they might say was inappropriate.

Episodes to get the warning treatment included appearances by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, the late media mogul Kerry Packer and actor Paul Hogan.

Other interview subjects appearing in viewer warning episodes included Gough Whitlam, Barry Humphries, Rod Laver, Peter Allen, Colleen McCullough, George Negus, Mike Walsh, John Farnham, and Jack Thompson.

Broadcaster Ben Fordham derided the warnings at the time as “another example of political correctness creeping into our lives” on his 2GB breakfast show.

“This time it is the ABC in Australia that is taking action,” he said. ‘In their crosshairs – Sir Michael Parkinson. Yes Parkie.

“Now the program is rated PG, so what could be offensive? We’ve done our best to resolve that.

“It’s just conversations with some great Aussie characters in all their glory, characters we sadly often miss in today’s tense world.”

In one episode, Parkinson asked Hawke – a notorious womanizer – if a newspaper’s claim that he “performs like a playboy” was accurate. “I have my moments,” Hawke replied.

“Do you really need a warning for that?” asked Fordham.

Parkinson, who hosted his eponymous British talk show from 1971 to 1982 and 1998 to 2007, interviewed Hawke when he was chairman of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

“They have about as much personality as an Indian cigar shop,” Parkinson said of union officials.

Legendary media executive Buttrose appeared in a 1979 episode with the late television journalist Mike Willesee, who was then the host of A Current Affair.

Parkinson’s first question to Buttrose was whether she considered Willesee a “manly chauvinistic pig” after introducing her as Australia’s most powerful woman.

“I didn’t hear the question because of the nodding,” Buttrose replied.

“I was told he is. Some of my friends who have worked with Mike over the years have told me that one of the requirements for being a journalist on his team is to have good breasts.’

Parkinson: “Is that right Mike, good breasts?”

Willesee: ‘I have nothing against that.’

When Parkinson asked Buttrose if there were many male chauvinistic pigs in Australia, she replied, ‘Well, some of my best friends are male chauvinistic pigs.’

“If you don’t like them, you’ve got a terrible problem here.”

Parkinson: “Do you use your feminine charms in dealing with men?”

Buttrose: “Of course. Why not?’

Willesee, who died four years ago, may have upset ABC censors in his response to Parkinson’s question if he was sexist.

“I have a hard time understanding words like sexist and feminist,” he said. Have you ever seen a feminist who was female?

“Have you ever been accused of being sexist by someone who wasn’t? No, I do not understand.

“There are groups of people with such fixed ideas that if you don’t conform to them, you’ll be considered an opponent.”

In a 1979 interview with Hogan, the comedian discussed complaints he received about jokes he made on his own television show.

“I stop one minute of that program, say Greeks, or Italians, or Poms, or Eskimos, and you get 300,000 calls,” he said. “You never get them over sending Australians.

“Maybe we’ll sit there and say, ‘Ah yes, I know such a galah.'”

Fordham said at the time that that excerpt — or anything else he could find in Parkinson’s interview series — should not offend anyone.

“Don’t worry Hoges, there are still a few galahs around and the ABC will prove it in 2022 with the warnings for Parky’s show,” he told his audience.

“So if you think they were sensitive back then, we’ve got news for you: we now have warnings about shows featuring these great Australian characters.”

An ABC spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia that “the use of warnings for such content is in accordance with ABC’s editorial policy.”

“It is also in line with the approach of many other broadcasters and streaming services that include similar warnings for content that may contain offensive language or attitudes,” she said.