Critic and broadcaster Clive James has died at the age of 80.

The Australian-born star of The Clive James Show was diagnosed with leukaemia, kidney failure and lung disease almost 10 years ago.

He died at home in Cambridge, England, on November 24 and a private funeral attended by family and close friends took place in the chapel at Pembroke College, Cambridge on Wednesday.

A statement on behalf of his family, released by his agents, said: “Clive died almost 10 years after his first terminal diagnosis, and one month after he laid down his pen for the last time.

Please log in or register with Independent.ie for free access to this article.

Log In

New to Independent.ie? Create an account

“He endured his ever-multiplying illnesses with patience and good humour, knowing until the last moment that he had experienced more than his fair share of this ‘great, good world’.

“He was grateful to the staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital for their care and kindness, which unexpectedly allowed him so much extra time. His family would like to thank the nurses of the Arthur Rank Hospice at Home team for their help in his last days, which allowed him to die peacefully and at home, surrounded by his family and his books.”

James first revealed the news of his illness in May 2011, when he had already been ill for 15 months – when he wrote to The Australian Literary Review to explain why he could not write for them.

• READ MORE:
  Somewhere Becoming Rain: Clive James embroiders beauty in poet of the ‘everyday’

• READ MORE:
  Clive James – restless but blessed

READ MORE:
‘I write poems saying I’m just about to die – and then I don’t’

Source: Read Full Article