Clive James interview (Parkinson, 2003)

Parkinson, 29/11/2003 - interviewer interviewing interviewer.
Not my copyright, just sharing found ephemera.

[@Pimpernella]

Clive James was a legend. He's such a big part of the best memories I have of my younger years. Parkie too. ❤️

[@paulmitchell5349]

An intellect lightly worn .Rest in pages, Clive.

[@martm216]

Brilliant comment - worthy of the great man himself.

[@RichelleBremner]

Nicely put Paul ☺️

[@ketchup5344]

Well, that's the best comment I'll see on you tube for a while. Probably a very long while.

[@tracyanne8616]

Beautifully worded thank you and well deserving of Clive James.

[@martm216]

I could listen to Clive James all day. And Michael Parkinson is the best chat show host - he actually allows his guests to speak. And I've never before appreciated how beautiful and lovely is Victoria Beckham.

[@thetheraine]

It's as if Clive is still here...I'm so glad all these moments are recorded for posterity...for us to enjoy... He still makes me smile and laugh...Blessings old boy... : )

[@tcw865]

RIP Clive - a real genius of your craft. Thanks for everything.

[@stewartnicol3028]

Love Clive forever. Delighted that we shared time on this plane (t) 🙏

[@gdkjones]

What an absolute legend. An exemplary intellect and the most charismatic of characters.

[@RichelleBremner]

Two wonderful men 🥰 Rest In Peace Clive, loved your shows, poetry and your wit.

[@rubytuesday1345]

Dear Clive James. My late father and I used to love his shows, especially news years eve. Always a gem. Sadly as it turns out, there were a number of things we didn’t know about Rolf Harris.

[@graemej2599]

Clive James wrote about the Rolf Harris we all knew and loved. The other face of Rolf was a hidden face. It seems like Male Creativity in the Arts is schizophrenic in what it shows to the world.

[@andrewherbert8125]

Is hard to watch now this great mind has gone. God, can we have Clive back, we will swap 6 internet influencer's for him.

[@ketchup5344]

Id swap the entire internet for him

[@anEyePhil]

As a Sydneysider, I can’t tell you how much this man meant to us. He illuminated London Cambridge and the British literary culture, but his base was the Australian, and in particular Sydney, condition. If you get the chance come to Kogarah, and see the modest ground in which this giant literary and cultural tree was planted. From little things big things grow. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnKyf5-cpLOJq7s

[@MrPoupard]

Sydney. I enjoyed it most of all for one reason: a collection of self contained villages (lived and paid tax there twice).

[@philruane5910]

I did. In 1990.

[@lawrencevincent1]

Clive James was so wonderful in every way. I can't seem to buy the postcards DVD set for cheap but hopefully maybe one day!

[@grav20]

The line about Grace Kelly summed up the brilliant droll humour of Clive James. An absolute legend.

[@martm216]

Loved this - Clive James is a great guy, or a great bunch of guys as the quote said. Parkinson is the supreme interviewer. And my goodness, until now I never appreciated how stunning Victoria Beckham is. What a looker. And, as Clive said, a lot more rounded person than the media would have us believe.

[@aussieoffroader1974]

RIP CLIVE. Thanks for laughs mate

[@donaldcurley5812]

Very funny man! especially when he was on his way around the world doing his series! excellent!

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

"There's something about Rolf that people don't know"... they do now...

[@harryraiswell2158]

I just watched this whole clip as I'm about to read Clive's "Unreliable Memoirs" autobiography. I absolutely bursted out laughing when he said that about Rolf. Everyone on my street probably would've heard me! 😂 😂

[@doginu]

I recently listened to him commentating F1 in the 80's , he was Great!

[@NxDoyle]

If there is heaven he shall go there. The sky will be blue and he will read and write by the harbour. Vale Clive James. Charm, wit, grace and style, all wrapped up in the form of a Kogarah thunderbox christened Vivian.

[@MultiVince95]

Saturday 29th November 2003

[@SuperBagshot]

I loved Clive James, real

[@cedricsharpe8893]

I miss Clever Clive James the sharpest wit

[@bonnie43uk]

very prophetic words about Rolf Harris at 12:49 albeit for a different reason. Great Interview btw.

[@donaldcurley5812]

We know quite a lot about Rolf now Clive!!

[@adamredman3000]

awesome

[@MrAndrewChung]

these were the days

[@philiphalpenny9761]

"Little known fact about Rolf" Hmmm!

[@adrianpilcher703]

Definitely a "back stroker".

[@Scottie_S]

I wonder if Clive wrote another poem about Rolf when he found out what he'd been up to. One of the good things about Clive was that he pulled no punches when critiquing others.

[@sabejreid2072]

LOVE CLIVE!

[@Motty1066]

Oh Clive, Clive, Clive. You beautiful funny thoughtful man. Parky could never get close to you. But you were humble enough to meet him where he was and make that Yorkshire hayseed look better. Thank you thank you thank you

[@joelbarraud]

raud The Significance of my Clive James Authentic Autographed Photo: Poem The Sun The sun rises casting a golden shine of love upon my brow light shadows of my former self glisten through my fear of what is near they hand me crystal white goblets of silver wine illuminating the shortness of time my silk robe is wearing thin pale my heart is frail twilight years loom over the hill urging me still halting the crimson tide clearing away the white wash that distorts my vision now the light glows in I feel the beauty of this land the fresh fragility of a rose petals exposed I no longer need to pose This is a poem I wrote inspired by Clive James recent work. The well known humorous, poet, essayist and culture commentator. One could say all round intellectual comedian. The New Yorker magazine once describe him as a brilliant bunch of guys! You could also say he is a Australian gem coated in English jewels. Winner of The Order of Australia 1992 and Phillip Hodgkin’s (things happened) 1995(disposcest). Memorial medal for literature 2003, many other numerous awards. Wether you love him or hate him James contribution to the literary and entertainment world is highly significant. This can be sh0own in several ways notably by his documentary, postcard programs for London weekend television. In the 80's and 90's his regular column as a television critic for The Observer newspaper between 1972-1982. His light entertainment programs which included, Saturday night Clive which then became The Clive James Show. His rye yet insightful and informative 8 part documentary series, fame in the 20th century and exclusive interviews with the like of Katherine Hepburn, Roman Polanski, in addition to all this he was Educated at Sydney University and Cambridge where he was President of the Footlights Drama Club. Many English comic legends got there start including: Peter Cook well known for his partnership with Dudley Moore and beyond the fringe also John Cleese, Eric Idol of Monty Python fame, Tim Book Taylor, Bill Oddy of The Goodies, Emma Thompson,Steven Fry just to name a few. James has also launched his own website and internet series “Talking in the Library”. James retired from mainstream media in the year 2000 to pursue his literary career but still appeared regularly on programs like Parkinson, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, Rove, Elders with Andrew Denton. He had his own radio series on Radio 4 called A Point of View and was often heard on radio National RN. In 2010 he was diagnosed with Leukaemia and emphysema which has inspired him to produce literary masterpieces like running water which is clearly demonstrated in Anthology's such as Collected Poems 1958-2015 and Sentenced to Life. His recent work crytalises a clarity of a man who is writing in the face of death with a sublime sense of dignity and grace. James acknowledges that he is a flawed character and speaks candidly about his infidelity documented in the poem “Spectre of the Rose” and is more than aware that he is living on borrowed time, and is willing to rectify past mistakes. This is a admiral quality which I admire greatly. I was so touched by the emotion and technical brilliance showcased in his recent work that I purchased a authentic autographed photo of him on Ebay. Some might view this as a trifle materialist but before you pass judgement let me explain my reasons: When I was a teenager suffering from a severe case of Adrienne Mole Syndrome(thanks Sue Townsend). I in a desperate attempt to emulate a James style of writing wrote a piece for my VCE writing folio entitled “Clive James postcard from space”. On reflection whilst it was probably a fear attempt to emulate/copy his voice it probably lacked plot and traditional structure but it was a significant piece in a sense that it was the first piece I typed independently. Being a typical precocious little brat I sent it to the 1996 Melbourne Writers Festival as he happen to be attending promoting his novel “The Silver Castle”. Not surprising I didn’t get a response so to obtain this precious piece of memorabilia now is deeply moving. Not only because I admire his writing but its also a small connection to almost every pop culture icon I have ever respected. Thank you Mr James

[@marinakaye8284]

I felt like that about Peter Ustinov. Was front row centre at his one man show in 2000/2001? He and Clive are, sorry.. were, great raconteurs!

[@TudorsTigers]

Seeing Clive flirt with Victoria Beckham is a delight. The admission he'd been miserable his whole life is truly sad. & that poem about Rolf Harris hasn't exactly aged well. But it was a great performance by the man.

[@ketchup5344]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 👍

[@probablygraham]

I just loved listening to him. The voice itself and what he had to say. The sort of voice I loved to listen to late at night on the radio many decades ago. As for the stupid Mrs. Beckham, doesn't she realise that keeping her teeth together when smiling just makes her look like a toothpaste advert or something? RIP, Clive.

[@CovidConQuitTheCensorship]

😂 I just don't like her. She's so vacant

[@jimsmint]

cripes, the Rolf stuff hasn't aged well, has it

[@handsomenumber1393]

posh spice body plus Clive's intellect

[@keef71]

parky interviews clive james and the other guest is posh spice???? meeting of minds there, then! fair play to clive tho for including her in the debate as a subject and not just an object

[@MrMarkhall1]

I used to like CJ,very funny.

[@doginu]

That's why he married her, Victoria was a Ball inspecter ...

[@gerardoneill1513]

When Victoria Beckham wasn't overly thin, funny good luck to you girl you have tried to make something outside of spice girls and being Mrs David Beckham.

[@roadie3124]

I understand his attraction to Gabriella Sabatini. Terrific tennis player and a very hot woman. Physical. Muscular. And she got sweaty. Sigh.

[@petermortimer6303]

She is still absolutely stunning.

[@katetee8059]

What would he have said of Trump? 🙊🙊🙊

[@trollop_7]

Almost-attractive spice.

[@carlos-fv1rc]

Totally repulsive spice

[@katetee8059]

Gah! The Rolf Harris 🤮🤮🤮

[@anthonywhelan4660]

To praise Rolf Harris? He thus himself embarress.

[@fredcollierfinishingtouche6701]

You can’t even spell it so shut up and do one no nuts.