Radiohead singer Thom Yorke's ex-partner Rachel Owen dies at 48

Dr Rachel Owen, the former partner of Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, has died after a battle with cancer. She was 48.

She was in a relationship with the star for 23 years before they split in August 2015. The couple had two children together, Noah, 15, and Agnes, 12.

Dr Owen was an internationally-renowned artist, and lectured at Oxford University. An obituary has been posted on the university’s website.

“Dr Owen was an internationally-renowned artist – mixing photography and printmaking – and at the same time a scholar in medieval Italian literature,” the statement reads.

“As Retained Lecturer, she used to teach Dante’s Divine Comedy to Pembroke’s finalists in Italian’.

“Despite her declining health from cancer in the last year, she asked to continue to teach, which she did right until the end of last Michaelmas term. She was 48 years old and leaves behind a son, Noah, and a daughter, Agnes, aged 15 and 12.”

The couple met while they were both studying at the University of Exeter, and stayed together until they split last year. They led a very private life, and were rarely seen in public together.

Radiohead fans believe that the lyrics and video for the band’s song Daydreaming makes reference to the impact of their split on Yorke.

Our thoughts are with Dr Owen’s family and friends at this sad time.