Jimmy Tarbuck emotional as he reveals he had lunch date with Michael Parkinson

Jimmy Tarbuck was emotional as he revealed that he had made a date to see Michael Parkinson for lunch this week.

The veteran comedian and entertainer saw the talk show host - who he said was a "giant friend" - last week, just days before Parkinson passed away at the age of 88.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: "Last week at the house I was with young Michael, his son.

Read more: Michael Parkinson fans moved as BBC airs touching tribute to 'true TV great'

‘I said, 'I’ll go now, you’re getting a bit tired.' He said, 'OK, thanks for coming. Do you want lunch next week?'

"I said, 'You arrange it and I’ll be there.'

"And unfortunately, I won’t."

Tarbuck, 83, said that Parkinson was "simply the best" and that he was a "giant" in the industry.

"But by God, I'm getting choked now," he went on.

"He was a giant friend. And he was a giant friend to me."

He went on: "And the talk shows? None of them have come near him since.

"He was just delightful, delightful company.

"And a very modest man. You didn’t see him go in anywhere and go, 'I'm Michael Parkinson.'

"He would walk in, well-dressed and good fun, I mean, great fun!"

Parkinson's family said in a statement that he passed away at home after a brief illness.

Tributes have poured in, with David Attenborough, Piers Morgan and David Beckham among those remembering the legendary TV star.

Read more: Michael Parkinson: Attenborough among stars saying goodbye to 'best interviewer in the business'

BBC director general Tim Davie called the star "the king of the chat show".

"Michael was truly one of a kind, an incredible broadcaster and journalist who will be hugely missed," he said.

Watch: Michael Caine and Elton John pay tribute to Michael Parkinson