Clive James: Australian broadcaster and author dies aged 80

Clive James, the Australian writer and broadcaster known around the world for his dry wit, has died at the age of 80.

Diagnosed with leukaemia in 2010, the author and critic had movingly written about his terminal illness during the final years of his life.

Born Vivian James in 1939, he moved to England in 1961 and rose to prominence as a literary critic and TV columnist.

He went on to deliver wry commentary on international programming in such shows as Clive James On Television.

The show saw him introduce amusing and off-beat TV clips from around the world, most famously from the Japanese game show Endurance.

According to a statement from his agents, he died at home in Cambridge on Sunday and was buried on Wednesday in the chapel at Pembroke College.

“Clive died almost 10 years after his first terminal diagnosis, and one month after he laid down his pen for the last time,” the statement read.

“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 [in Cambridge] 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.”

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