Parkinson's last show featured Bruce Forsyth and Boris Becker

The 69-year-old, who announced last month that he was leaving to join ITV, said it was not a "solemn occasion".

He first presented the show in 1971 but it is not the first time he has left the corporation.

In 1982, he moved to become a founding presenters of TV-am and it was 15 years before he returned to the BBC fold.

'Only a talk show'

Parkinson was joined for Saturday's show by guests including Irish pop group The Corrs, tennis star Boris Becker, musician Jamie Cullen and comedian Patrick Kielty.

He barely mentioned his impending move to ITV, telling entertainer Bruce Forsyth: "It is not a solemn occasion, me leaving... no, no, it is only a talk show."

He rounded off the final Parkinson show by acknowledging his guests and audience, saying simply: "And thank you for joining us. Goodnight."

BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas said Parkinson's last show marked the end of an era as it was unlikely he would be back for a third time, despite the fact he will still be heard on BBC radio.

Parkinson said he made the move after BBC bosses tried to move his talk show to a different slot to make way for the return of Match of the Day.

In the 70s, a stream of guests from the top drawer of sport and Hollywood made him the doyen of chat show hosts.

The broadcaster has signed a two-year deal to present his talk show on ITV1 on Saturday nights.