This article concerns the British journalist and broadcaster. For the Minnesota senator, see Mike Parry (politician)

Mike Parry (politician)

Michael J. "Mike" Parry is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate representing District 26, which includes portions of Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, and Waseca counties in the southeastern part of the state.-Early life, education, and business...

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Mike Parry is a British

British people

The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...

 journalist

Journalist

A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...

 and radio presenter.

Early life

Born in Chester, Parry attended The King's School, Chester

The King's School, Chester

The King's School, Chester is a British coeducational independent 7-18 school situated just outside the city of Chester. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....

, and later Trent Polytechnic.

Journalism career

After graduating, Parry became "a Fleet Street

Fleet Street

Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...

 reporter" and contributed to tabloid newspapers, most notably with The Sun

The Sun (newspaper)

The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...

. Parry then had a spell in the late 1990s as news editor of the Press Association in its Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, HQ before becoming press officer with the Football Association.
Can be bit of a moo in but very amusing fellow

Radio

In 1999, Parry joined Talk Radio (later known as talkSPORT

TalkSPORT

Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....

). Parry originally co-presented the Sports Breakfast with Alan Brazil

Alan Brazil

Alan Bernard Brazil is a Scottish former football player and broadcaster. He was a forward before retirement due to injury. He is now a radio presenter on Talksport.-Club career:...

, but after the onset of health problems, he was replaced by Graham Beecroft

Graham Beecroft

Graham 'Beeky' Beecroft is a British radio personality currently working on Century Radio 105.4. He lives in the Wirral, near Liverpool. He is a former Quantity Surveyor and mobile disco DJ....

 and subsequently Ronnie Irani

Ronnie Irani

Ronald Charles "Ronnie" Irani is a former England cricketer who spent most of his career at Essex County Cricket Club, latterly as captain. He is of Irani descent, the Iranis being a community of Persian Zoroastrians who immigrated to India during the British Raj...

.

Due to the improvement in his health, Parry returned to co-host the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show on Monday and Friday mornings, and sometimes stood in for Ronnie Irani

Ronnie Irani

Ronald Charles "Ronnie" Irani is a former England cricketer who spent most of his career at Essex County Cricket Club, latterly as captain. He is of Irani descent, the Iranis being a community of Persian Zoroastrians who immigrated to India during the British Raj...

 if he was unavailable. Changes in talkSPORT's schedule for 2009 meant that Parry presented the 10:00–13:00 slot with Andy Townsend

Andy Townsend

Andrew "Andy" David Townsend is a former professional footballer, who played in two World Cups for the Republic of Ireland and is now a television and radio pundit....

 on Mondays to Fridays. From June 2010-February 2011 he co-hosted with Mike Graham

Mike Graham (Journalist)

Michael Graham is a British journalist. He is best known for his work as a presenter on national commercial speech radio station Talksport...

 in the same slot. Their daily show was replaced with a new programme hosted by Richard Keys

Richard Keys

Richard Keys is an English radio presenter best known for his time with British sports channel Sky Sports from 1991 until 2011. In February 2011, Keys along with fellow Sky presenter, Andy Gray signed with talkSPORT....

 and Andy Gray from 14 February 2011 and Parry left the station.

Parry stood in for regular presenter Mark Chapman

Mark Chapman (DJ)

Andrew Mark "Chappers" Chapman , also known as Chappers, is the main sports presenter on Radio 5 Live as well as presenting for BBC Sport on television, his mother is Emily Chapman and his father is Peter Chapman.He was the sports newsreader and Mills' sidekick on The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio...

 on 6-0-6

6-0-6

6-0-6 is a football phone-in, broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live throughout the football season; when the programme started, it typically went on air at 6:06pm on a matchday . It covers topics relating to the current affairs of football in the United Kingdom. It currently airs on Saturdays and...

on Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...

 on 19 February 2011 and again on 2 April 2011 alongside Robbie Savage

Robbie Savage

Robert William "Robbie" Savage is a football pundit and former Welsh professional footballer who played predominantly as a midfielder. During his career he captained Derby County, and also played for the Welsh national team. He now presents 606 on BBC Radio Five Live on Sunday evenings alongside...

.

Personal life

Parry supports Everton Football Club.

In 2004, he suffered heart failure and was treated at Harefield Hospital

Harefield Hospital

Harefield Hospital is located in Harefield, Middlesex. It is part of the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, which describes itself as "the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe". Harefield's sister hospital is the Royal Brompton Hospital in...

. In 2004, Parry was diagnosed with advanced dilated cardiomyopathy and placed on the transplant list. At a routine check up in January 2005, Parry's consultant stated there was a "marked improvement" but told Parry that although his condition might be stable, his heart wouldn't improve. In April 2005, due to a combination of drug treatment and Parry's improvements in digestion and exercise, resulting in a loss of four stones in six months, Parry was removed from the transplant list. Parry completed the Great North Run

Great North Run

The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...

, raising £9,000 pounds for Harefield Hospital in September 2007.