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I am the greatest interviewer on British television: Piers Morgan

By Press Association

Former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan said Sir David Frost was by far the greatest interviewer of all time. 

Speaking to the Radio Times, Morgan said: “If you look at the early stuff. He took lots of people apart. Frost on the rampage was an incredible spectacle on television – he was a firecracker interviewer. And the Nixon thing was an incredible tour de force because it showed all his qualities."

The former newspaper man has a show on ITV in Britain, Life Stories, where he regularly reduces his guests to tears, as well as a more serious CNN show.

He said: "Rod Stewart is never going to cry in an interview with me in a million years even though he's been through stuff that's very hurtful to him. Simon Cowell teared up and that's because I knew where to go where I thought we might get a surprising emotion… different to the normal, self-confident guy."

The 48-year-old presenter said he thinks he is now the best interviewer on television. ”I don't think that my so-called rivals do what I do.

"I'm the only person who sits down with people on TV for two or three hours to truncate to a one-hour show. So I think I'm almost in a category of my own.

”I can't compete with Graham Norton for the comedy he brings and I think he's got a terrific show. Or Jonathan Ross. Or Alan Carr. They're all entertainers and comedians, really.

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"They're not any of them particularly great interviewers. I don't think they profess to be. Parky could do both."

In a barbed comment claiming Parkinson would like to be the next Piers Morgan, the controversial journalist added:  "I like Parky but he doesn't think anyone else could ever come anywhere close to being as good as him."

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