AI-replicated Michael Parkinson to host ‘completely unscripted’ celebrity podcast
An AI-replicated Sir Michael Parkinson is set to host a new podcast, featuring a series of completely unscripted interviews with celebrities.
Virtually Parkinson is a world-first podcast according to its producers, Deep Fusion Films, and has been made with the support and involvement of Parkinson’s family and estate.
Known for his interviews with the world’s biggest stars, Parkinson died last year aged 88, following a brief illness.
The eight-part show will use AI technology to synthetically recreate the late presenter’s voice and interview style, drawing from a back catalogue of over 2,000 of his interviews.
The system – dubbed “Squark” – uses AI tools to allow live humans to speak with voices from the past.
Calling it “a tribute to my Dad,” Parkinson’s son, Mike Parkinson, reached out to the company with the idea of creating the podcast, as a way to preserve his father’s legacy.
He said: “I want audiences to marvel at the technology, the cleverness and cheekiness of the concept, but mostly I want them to remember just how good he was at interviewing and enjoy the nostalgia and happy memories.
“Through this platform, his legacy can continue, entertaining a new generation of fans.”
Deep Fusion Films co-founder Jamie Anderson said watching Parkinson’s son’s reaction to hearing his late father’s voice was “something really special,” adding that those who had listened to the AI replication had been “wowed” by its accuracy and warmth.
Parkinson and Tom Cruise in 2004. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
The company has expanded to create the project, hiring a new head of creative AI, an AI prompt engineer, researchers, guest bookers, podcast producers, and a sound engineer.
AI ethics in the spotlight
Concerns over the growing use of AI in the industry partly inspired last year’s US strike by actors and writers, which brought Hollywood to a virtual standstill.
In 2022, the UK acting union Equity launched a campaign called Stop AI Stealing The Show.
Performers have found their jobs particularly vulnerable to new technology, putting both their livelihoods and reputations at risk, in the case of deepfakes mistaken by the public as the real thing.
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Touching on the ethics of the project, Deep Fusion Films says it is “openly showcasing the AI aspect,” and will signpost that the podcast is hosted by AI at the start.
It will also feature a debrief with the interviewee about what it was like to be interviewed by an AI at the end.
Guests are yet to be confirmed, but are said to be “notable people from a variety of spheres” including film and TV, music, and politics.
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Born into a family of miners in Barnsley, Parkinson’s broadcasting career saw him front more than 600 shows and 2,000 interviews, working with the BBC, ITV, and Sky.
He interviewed stars including John Wayne, Fred Astaire, John Lennon, Tom Cruise, Madonna, and the Beckhams, plus a notably prickly interview with Hollywood star Meg Ryan.
Virtually Parkinson will be released on the official Michael Parkinson YouTube channel later this year, alongside a curated collection of archival footage.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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