Journalist Rod Liddle dies aged 66 after short illness

Journalist and broadcaster Rod Liddle has died at the age of 66 after a short illness, it has been announced.The Sunday Times and Sun columnist previously served as editor of BBC Radio 4's Today programme and has more recently been presenting shows on Times Radio.The news of his passing was announced this afternoon by his employers News UK.He also had a weekly column in The Spectator, where he met his wife Alicia Monckton while in his role there as an associate editor.They wed in 2008, with Liddle previously having been married to fellow journalist Rachel Royce.His children today paid tribute to their father who they say was their guide 'on how to live an extraordinary life'.Liddle died at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on Sunday evening.In a statement, his children Wilder, Tyler and Emmy said: 'We're all very saddened and shocked at the sudden passing of our wonderful father. He raised us much as you might imagine, to be inquisitive, brave and always humorous.Rod Liddle has died at the age of 66 after a short illness, his employers News UK announced Rod Liddle is pictured at a The Spectator party with Alicia Monckton - the pair wed in 2008'Even in hospital in the last few weeks, he consistently held the room and never let the awful situation show.'He has left a legacy that we are all incredibly proud of, he will always be our guide on how to live an extraordinary life.'Liddle, born in Sidcup in south-east London in April 1960, began his journalist career as a news reporter on the South Wales Echo in Cardiff before working as a Labour Party researcher and speechwriter between 1983 and 1987.He went on to read social psychology at the London School of Economics as a mature student before joining the BBC as a trainee producer.Liddle, a comprehensive school- educated son of a train driver from Middlesbrough, was appointed editor of BBC Radio 4's flagship morning Today programme in 1998.He was later embroiled in controversy over the show's claims, by reporter Andrew Milligan, that Tony Blair's government had 'sexed up' an intelligence dossier ahead of backing US military action against Iraq.Liddle had appointed Gilligan as a Today correspondent but had left the corporation when the report was broadcast in May 2003.Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News UK, today said: 'Everyone at News UK is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden death of Rod Liddle. Rod Liddle, pictured in March 2015, wrote newspaper and magazine columns as well as presenting radio shows'Rod was an inimitable journalistic force – brilliant, provocative and immensely talented – whose sharp wit and uncompromising voice graced our pages and airwaves for decades.'Whether writing for The Sunday Times and The Sun or broadcasting on Times Radio, he challenged conventional thinking and left an indelible mark on British journalism.'Rod will be greatly missed by all his friends and colleagues at News, as well as by his many readers, listeners and viewers.'Our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with his family and loved ones.'Sunday Times editor Ben Taylor said: 'Rod Liddle had a wonderful way with words and used his unique talent to speak for the readers, highlighting the cant and absurdity that bedevils modern life.'He was also supremely entertaining and for years his column was the first that many turned to every Sunday. We will miss him desperately.'Victoria Newton, editor-in-chief of the Sun, said: 'Rod was a brilliant, fearless columnist who was much loved by all at the Sun.'A champion of press freedom, no topic was off-limits, and his writing – as funny as it was excoriating – was simply exceptional.'A terrific observer of the frailties of our political class, he will be remembered for his razor sharp wit and for his huge intellect.'But on the Sun floor he will also be remembered for his warmth and humour and for the belly laughs we had at his wildly entertaining lunches and dinners where he would hold court.'He will be hugely missed by the Sun's staff and by his many, many loyal readers.'Tim Levell, programme director of Times Radio, said: 'Rod burst out of the speakers when he started his show on Times Radio. Listeners already knew about his wit and his proudly anti-conventional views.'But his wide learning, dedication and comedic timing were a delight and surprise to many. His show brightened Saturday mornings enormously and he will be greatly missed.'Liddle resigned from his post as BBC Radio 4 Today programme editor in September 2002 after being warned by the corporation about risking impartiality rules with columns he was writing for the Guardian.He had written an article ridiculing a Countryside Alliance protest march against the New Labour government's fox hunting ban. Liddle later faced criticism over racist posts on a Millwall football messageboard alleged to have been written by him, though he insisted his account was hacked. The first message was written in October 2009, when he contributed to a debate about whether the BNP should admit non-white members.He wrote: 'There's thousands of organisations catering exclusively to black and asian minorities. F*** 'em, close them down.'Why do blacks need a forum of their own? As a power base and cash cow for ****s and in order to perpetuate the myth of widespread discrimination.'When first contacted by The Mail on Sunday, he denied writing the BNP-related message, adding: 'I often get opposition fans logging in under my name to try to embarrass me. I wouldn't go near the racist ones.'However, he later admitted writing the post, saying: 'Yes, I did write that, but be fair. The language is not something I would put in The Sunday Times or The Spectator. You could do me for that, I suppose.'He added: 'If there was anything racist on the site, I would repudiate it immediately.'Most of the coverage is always me arguing with racists, so it wouldn't really fit for me to be suddenly racist.'