大象传媒

Veteran chat show host Sir Michael Parkinson has hit back at recent press criticism of his refusal to apologise over a 1975 TV interview with the actress Dame Helen Mirren.

The interview made headlines last month when Sir Michael refused to apologise for referring to Dame Helen's physique as "equipment". She has described that remark as "sexist".

Speaking to Afternoon Edition's Sarah Brett, Sir Michael admitted that watching the interview now makes him "cringe" because he "behaved like a prat". But he criticised recent coverage of the row, insisting that he and Dame Helen met again in 2008 and "laughed like two intelligent human beings".

He added that he felt neither he nor Dame Helen should apologise over the incident.

This interview is originally from Afternoon Edition on 7 December 2016.