Fay Weldon death: Prolific author and playwright dies aged 91
Author and playwright Fay Weldon has died at the age of 91.
The prolific writer, who penned more than 50 works across her lifetime, including The Cloning of Joanna May and The Life and Loves of a She-Devil.
Writer Roger Clarke, Weldon’s nephew, first shared news of Weldon’s death on Twitter.
“I just heard the news from her son Dan that my beloved aunt Fay Weldon died this morning,” he wrote.
“I’m so glad to have known her. I only met her after tracking down my biological family. She was wise, funny and true. She helped me so much. I’ll miss her, everything about her.”
Her son confirmed news of her death to The Guardian.
Weldon was born Franklin Birkinshaw in the West Midlands in 1931. After working as a Clerk at the Foreign Office, she moved into advertising, and became the head of ad firm Ogilvy, Benson & Mather.
In the 1960s, Weldon began writing for film and TV. Her first novel, The Fat Woman’s Joke, was published in 1967.
Weldon wrote the very first episode of the hit class comedy Upstairs, Downstairs in 1971, which won her a Writer’s Guild award for Best British TV Series Script.
Among her other screen works was the script for the 1980 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
In 2001, Weldon was awarded a the rank of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).
More to follow...
