Neil Reading Dead: John Cleese & Lenny Henry PR Was 56

Neil Reading, UK publicist to the likes of John Cleese and Dawn French, has died aged 56.

According to The Sun, which carried a number of tributes, the PR guru died following a short illness.

Reading ran a PR firm, Neil Reading PR, and was an extremely well-known publicist in the UK entertainment world. He launched his agency in 1992 and specialized in entertainment along with lifestyle PR.

Reading’s clients included Monty Python co-creator Cleese, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power star Lenny Henry, British comic French, comedian Jason Manford and another beloved comic, the late Victoria Wood.

French told The Sun: “Neil Reading was a one-off, such a kind, decent, intelligent man, a proper gentleman in the old-fashioned way, quietly magnificent. Our work relationship became a very real and trusting friendship. He has been my ally and fierce protector through so much and for so long. I don’t quite know how I’ll manage without him. Sleep tight darlin’ heart.”

Manford added: “Describing Neil as my PR manager does not come close to describing what he meant to me. He was a trusted friend of almost 20 years, a confidant and one of the most loyal, noble and brilliant men I have ever known.”

Reading is survived by his wife Claire and daughter Rosa.