However, Piers has remained as host of his hugely popular ITV series Life Stories and Sir Michael has appeared on the show.
The TV veteran had to pause for a moment and compose himself when Piers Morgan asked him about the death of his father.
Sir Michael became visibly emotional as the Good Morning Britain host quizzed him on his father, Jack Parkinson’s, death that had occurred in 1975, following a battle with lung disease pneumoconiosis – which is caused by long-term retention of dust.
Following his appearance, the TV veteran was inspired to write his latest book offering Like Father, Like Son.
Sir Michael explained: “I broke down nearly 40 years later over my father’s death, I thought I had stored that away, I thought I had got rid of that grief, but I hadn’t.”
