Michael Parkinson looks back at a memorable interview with the talented and troubled Welsh actor Richard Burton. Back in 1974, the film star was battling against alcoholism, consuming "up to three bottles of hard liquor a day", and had spent six weeks in a Swiss clinic for treatment prior to the interview - which took place in the morning before the pubs opened, although in the event he had to be given a whiskey to calm his nerves. Unable to round up an audience so early in the day, BBC chefs and kitchen staff were invited to sit in the audience, which gave Burton quite a surprise when met with a crowd of people in white coats; "Christ, I thought I was back at the bloody clinic". He said he had been on the edge of a "terrible precipice", but had survived and had decided to regain control of his life. He didn't. He died of a brain haemorrhage in 1984, aged 59.

Michael Parkinson interviews David Niven.

Michael Parkinson introduces a recut of two interviews he did with Frankie Howerd during the Parkinson show series and a Christmas interview with Tommy Cooper. Frankie Howerd wanted everything scripted, resulting in an unprompted and unrehearsed interview whilst Tommy Cooper managed to run rings around a delighted Parkinson. Includes clips from Up Pompeii, The Main Attraction and The Bob Monkhouse Show.