Linda Smith has died
Comedian Linda Smith has died from ovarian cancer, aged 48.
Linda was somebody I, along with many others, liked a lot. She was one of that rare breed of comedian that can always make you smile, regardless of what mood you’re in, or however much you don’t want to. I loved listening to her on The News Quiz, Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, Just a Minute, and watching her appearances on the excellent QI, as well has her not infrequent appearances on Question Time, where she always had interesting points to make – as always, deadly serious but delivered in a comic way.
In his tribute, Jeremy Hardy tells how Linda chose not to tell many people about her cancer, not wanting to be seen as ‘that comedian with cancer’, but rather just ‘that great comedian’. And she truly was great.
There are formal obituaries on the BBC website, and also at MediaGuardian.
She will be sadly missed.
Your Comments and Responses
Comment from Anonymous
I miss her. I never met her but always enjoyed listening to her and felt she was a kindred spirit both politically and in her understated satire and gentle piss taking. There was a sort of warmth about her which was truly wonderful. She was, I think, part of an oddly English self deprecating yet extraordinarily perceptive traditon.
The fact that she also liked Ian Drury just enhanced my admiration.
» This comment was received at 22:58 on 24 February 11
