Deric Longden

Television films Longden's first book, Diana's Story, was adapted for television in 1993 with the release of the TV film Wide-Eyed and Legless, known as The Wedding Gift in the US, starring Julie Walters as Diana Longden, Jim Broadbent as Deric Longden, Sian Thomas as Aileen Armitage and Thora Hird as Deric's mother Annie Longden. Longden co-wrote the script with Jack Rosenthal. The film won the Emmy for best foreign drama and a BAFTA for Hird as best actress.

Longden was ill during the last decade of his life. He suffered a series of ministrokes which meant he was unable to write. He also suffered from epilepsy and for 18 months was unable to drive as a result of this. He gradually withdrew from public life.

In 2007, Longden had an abdominal aortic aneurysm and his life was saved by surgery.

In 2012, Longden lost his voice for about eight months due to oesophagus complications. An injection into his vocal chords allowed him to speak again.

On 19 November 2012, Longden was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On 23 June 2013, he died of cancer of the oesophagus, aged 76.

Books Diana's Story (1989) Lost For Words (1991) The Cat Who Came in from the Cold (1991) I'm a Stranger Here Myself (1994) Enough to Make a Cat Laugh (1996) A Play on Words (2000) Paws in the Proceedings (2007) TailPieces (2012)