John Gibson: Don’t pick your nose, Parky . . .

Picking your nose and clawing your ear. That’s going to be fashionable again. Because, just when you thought he’d retired to wallow in the reclusive life in his native Barnsley, Parky’s coming back to television.

I can hear you groaning from here. Five years after his talk show folded on ITV, the Sky Arts channel is to revitalise him with six “masterclass” slots in front of a live audience. The “master” in the fine art of TV interviewing. Filming starts in May. The channel director is saying it was a real privilege to have him.

“He is one of the country’s finest broadcasters, having interviewed in the entertainment world everyone worth knowing, from Bing Crosby and Bette Davis to Rod Hull and Madonna.’’

That’s the Rod Hull whose telly prop was Emu, bless it. They’ll be exhumed and Sky Arts are to pull out every stop when we hear that their writers will include Sandi Toksvig. I can’t wait.

Here’s Parky chuntering at 77: “I’m just telling you how lucky I’ve been. I’ve been a journalist now for 60 years, I’ve seen the changes and I know bloody well that if I’ve been gifted at all, it has been with timing.’’

Know how you feel. Sixty years is a long time. Try not to pick your hooter, Sir Michael. And do leave your ears alone.