Broadcaster and writer Sir Clement Freud dies

Published on Thursday 16 April 2009 09:06

SIR Clement Freud, the writer, broadcaster and former Liberal MP, has died, his family announced today.

He died at his desk yesterday at his home in London, nine days short of his 85th birthday.

A frequent contributor to Radio 4's Just a Minute show, Sir Clement was a grandson of the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud. His five children include the PR businessman Matthew Freud and TV presenter Emma Freud.

In a varied career since his famous family moved to the UK in the 1930s, Berlin-born Sir Clement worked as an apprentice cook at the Dorchester Hotel in London before joining the Royal Ulster Rifles during the Second World War.

But Sir Clement first became a household name in the 1960s and 70s in Minced Morsels dog food adverts.

His role on the small screen with Henry the dog launched him on a long career as a television and radio personality, helping him become a stalwart on the BBC's Just a Minute for more than 30 years.

Sir Clement, whose brother is the painter Lucian Freud, was also a celebrated food, sport and comment journalist, who worked for a string of titles including the Observer, the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Express.

Last year he spoke about his death, claiming his relatives would want to inherit his wine.

He wrote in the Times: "I lost Sigmund's night-shirts and the heavy leather luggage, but have quite a lot of wine, the odd painting, a letter from Margaret Thatcher and a picture of me with Muhammad Ali.

"I took my children around our flat in turns to glean who wanted to have what when we died. They all wanted all the wine, my wife's desk, my collection of cookery books and the same picture, so that will be no trouble.

"When it came to money, all are hugely well heeled and what I leave, especially a fifth share of what I leave, is likely to be an embarrassment: what they tip the milkman at Christmas."

His political career began in 1973, when he won the Isle of Ely constituency for the Liberals. He transferred to North East Cambridgeshire after boundary changes, but lost the seat in 1987.

The father of five was also knighted in 1987.