Restaurant critic AA Gill dies aged 62 after short fight with cancer

Restaurant critic AA Gill has died aged 62 after a short fight with cancer.

The Sunday Times columnist's illness was recently confirmed by doctors amid concerns about his rapid weight loss.

The father of four, who was educated at the independent St Christopher's School and was married to current Home Secretary Amber Rudd during the 1990s, said he had no regrets about the diagnosis.

He said his illness had prompted his successful proposal to Nicola Formby, his partner of almost a quarter of a century.

In an interview with The Sunday Times three weeks ago, headlined "I'm elated to get married - oh, and I'm ill", Adrian Anthony Gill, who used the byline A. A. Gill and sometimes AA Gill, blessed his good fortune at becoming a lifestyle journalist.

His works were full of trademark wit and cynicism, and in a nod to his career as a food writer, Gill referred to his diagnosis as a "full English" of cancers.

He died on Saturday morning and his final column is featured in this weekend's edition of the paper.

Friends and colleagues on the newspaper were informed of his death by editor Martin Ivens, who described the celebrated critic - known to some by his first name Adrian - as "a giant among journalists".

In his memo to staff, Mr Ivens said: "It is with profound sadness that I must tell you that our much-loved colleague Adrian Gill died this morning.

"Adrian was stoical about his illness, but the suddenness of his death has shocked us all.

"Characteristically he has had the last word, writing an outstanding article about coming to terms with his cancer in tomorrow's Sunday Times Magazine.

"He was the heart and soul of the paper. His wit was incomparable, his writing was dazzling and fearless, his intelligence was matched by compassion.

"Adrian was a giant among journalists. He was also our friend. We will miss him.

"I know you will want to join me in sending condolences to Nicola Formby and his children."

Financial Times editor Lionel Barber hailed him as the "king of irreverent critics".

Jay Rayner, The Observer's restaurant critic, wrote on Twitter: "So sorry to hear about the death of AA Gill.

"He was a controversialist, sometimes outrageously so, but a kind man and a brilliant writer."