Deric Longden (29 November 1936 – 22 June 2013) was an English writer and autobiographer.He married Diana Hill in 1957 and had two children, Sally and Nick. After various jobs he took over a small women's lingerie factory, but began writing and broadcasting in the 1970s for programmes like Does He Take Sugar? and Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4. Most of his work was based on his own experience. His wife Diana's illness, subsequently believed to be a form of ME, forced him to sell the factory. Afterwards, he worked as a full-time writer, broadcaster and speaker.The bestselling Diana’s Story, published in 1989, was followed by Lost for Words, The Cat Who Came in from the Cold, I’m a Stranger Here Myself, Enough to Make a Cat Laugh, A Play On Words and Paws in the Proceedings.Deric Longden's first two books were adapted for television, the first retitled Wide-Eyed and Legless. The second, Lost for Words, was screened in January 1999 and won the Emmy for best foreign drama and a BAFTA for Thora Hird as best actress.After the death of Diana, he married writer Aileen Armitage in 1990 and they moved to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.Deric Longden died of cancer of the oesophagus on Saturday 22 June 2013. He was survived by his wife, children and granddaughter.
Father of Sally Longden and Nick Longden, father-in-law of Jo Longden.
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Son of Annie Longden.
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While looking after his first wife, Diana, who was suffering from ME, he worked part-time as a sports reporter for BBC Local Radio, reporting from football matches in the Derbyshire area. He also wrote and recorded humourous articles for BBC Radio 4's "Woman's Hour" and for Radio 4's disabled-rights programme "Does He Take Sugar?" which he suggested should be temporarily retitled "How Are Her Periods?" after a crass question that he was asked on Diana's behalf by a specialist that she was consulting about her ME.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Masterpiece Classic
1999
TV Series 1 episode
Lost for Words
1999
TV Movie book / screenplay
Screen One
1993
TV Series autobiographical books "Diana's Story" and "Lost For Words" - 1 episode
$1.6 Million
