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Minute waltz plays out for radio star and MP Clement Freud
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter16 Apr 2009
Sir Clement Freud, whose eclectic career as a broadcaster, writer, politician and celebrity chef marked him out as a much-loved British institution, has died at the age of 84.
Sir Clement was at his desk at his home in Marylebone when he died suddenly yesterday, his family announced this morning. He had been working right up until his death, having only in the past fortnight recorded what will now be his final appearance on Just a Minute, the Radio 4 panel show on which he was a stalwart for more than 30 years.
During his career Sir Clement ran one of the most fashionable nightclubs in the Sixties, presented cookery programme Freud on Food, represented the Isle of Ely as a Liberal MP for 14 years and even wrote a best-selling children's book that JK Rowling once declared as her favourite.
Even in his 80s, he was indulging one of his favourite pastimes, horseracing, attending a meet the day before he died and the Grand National two weeks ago.
Sir Clement also starred in a lucrative TV advert for dog food Minced Morsels alongside a bloodhound called Henry who shared his hangdog expression. Sir Clement would later complain to his family he was famous for a commercial which amounted to three days work and which he regarded as an irritation.
The grandson of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, Sir Clement had five children, including the broadcaster Emma Freud and public relations guru Matthew Freud. His brother is the artist Lucian Freud, widely recognised as the world's greatest living painter.
Sir Clement was born in Berlin, the son of Jewish parents who fled the Nazis, arriving in Britain in the 1930s. He was educated at St Paul's School before signing up as an apprentice chef at the Dorchester. During the war, he served with the Royal Ulster Rifles and acted as a liaison officer at the Nuremberg war crimes trials, returning to the hotel business at the Martinez in Cannes.
In the 1950s he began writing about cookery for newspapers and magazines before expanding into sport.
During the 1960s he also found time to run the Royal Court nightclub, frequented by stars such as Sir David Frost and Peter Cook, introducing comedy acts which gave him his first taste for performing.
In 1968, he wrote a children's book Grimble, which had 150,000 members in its fan club. Freud on Food marked him out as one of the first television chefs alongside Fanny Cradock.
In 1973, he stood as a Liberal candidate for the Isle of Ely at odds of 33-1. Placing a £1,000 bet on himself, Sir Clement, by now established as a television personality, not least through the dog food adverts, duly won. His winnings were the equivalent to two years' salary as an MP. Despite his celebrity status, Sir Clement worked hard in his constituency, and his departure in 1987 was marked by a knighthood.
He continued recording Just a Minute - for which he enjoyed a devoted following - and wrote newspaper columns.
Last year in typical curmudgeonly style, 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 to glean who wanted what when we died. They all wanted the wine, my wife's desk, my 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 is likely to be an embarrassment: what they tip the milkman at Christmas."
He is survived by his wife of 59 years Jill , five children and 17 grandchildren. His funeral will take place next week.
Fellow Just A Minute panellist Stephen Fry today paid tribute to a "charming and wonderful man". Fry said: "I was at first very afraid of him - a lot of people were. There were stories he was immensely grouchy, he was rude sometimes to people who asked for autographs. I never experienced that side of him at all.
"And another element to him which perhaps should not go unmentioned is his raffishness, if you like, his air of disreputability."
Comedian and writer Tony Hawks, who worked with Sir Clement, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Through his great intellect he would always bring out the best in you."
Reader views (3)
one of my memories of his cooking skills,was a recipe in the observer's sunday supplement back in 60's..it was a cherry almond tart lined with macaroons,glazed with apricot jam and finished off with boiling sugar..complex but delicious just like the man!!
- Ann Foley, wimbledon, 16/04/2009 12:33
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He could say more in just a minute than I could in an afternoon. His eloquent use of big words, (mine is restricted to the likes of carbolic and marmalade) always made me smile, once I found out what they meant. He, like 'Humph' was absolutely marvelous and I shall miss his wit and delivery.
- Alan, carlisle uk, 16/04/2009 11:36
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A true gentleman & Liberal - he will be missed.
Along with David Penhaligon was my inspiration for becoming a Liberal - but for differing reasons.
I look forward to his last just a minute - which I'm sure will be a fitting tribute.
RIP
- Andrew, Birmingham, 16/04/2009 10:38
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