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May 27, 2009

Michael Parkinson in libel claim against his first paper

By paulmcnally

Veteran broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has threatened to sue the newspaper where he began his journalism career more than 50 years ago.

Parkinson is said to be unhappy with a piece published by the Barnsley Chronicle, written by his cousin Malcolm Tonge, which made various allegations about his late father.

According to the Daily Mail, he has instructed Carter Ruck to begin libel proceedings.

Editor Bob Cockroft is standing by the piece. He said: “He was going on about us libelling his dad. Although it is very sad that his dad has died, he knows as we do that you can’t libel the dead.”

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