Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86, his publisher confirmed. The author and former Conservative MP died “suddenly and peacefully at home” on Monday between writing sessions.
His final book, Adam and Eve, is set to be released this week. Days before his death, Archer gave a final interview to BBC Breakfast’s Jon Kay.
Final interview and retirement denial
In the interview, Archer spoke about his career, his prostate cancer battle, and his time in prison, where he was jailed for perjury in 2001 after being found guilty of lying and cheating in his 1987 case against the Daily Star.
Jon Kay asked: “What does retirement look like for you? Retirement from novel writing, I cannot see Jeffrey Archer in the potting shed or playing golf for some reason.”
Archer replied: “It’ll be the auctions I hope, and the charity work. My wife is currently building a hospital in Cambridge, a children’s hospital. I will write plays, I will write - I hope, if I live long enough - other things, so I won’t stop, it’s just the final novel.”
Tributes and reaction
When Jon asked if he was looking forward to semi-retirement, Archer, jokingly but sternly, replied: “No! I shall not be retiring! You clearly have not been listening to a word said to you, Jon!”
He then conceded he was semi-retiring as he stepped back from writing novels, and, when asked what he would do with his time, replied: “I love the theatre, I go once a week, I admit to loving television and watching long series. You’ve caught me, Jon!”
Speaking on Tuesday’s BBC Breakfast on October 6, after the news of Archer’s death was announced, Jon reflected on meeting him just days ago. He commented that Archer had “seemed so well when we did that interview,” saying that the author was “so full of energy and life”.
The programme also spoke to Archer’s publisher and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. She said: “At 8am yesterday he sent me a message saying, ‘Great outfit, great speech. No need to reply,’ and I read it and smiled.
“I was absolutely shocked in the evening when I heard that he had passed away. It is devastating news. He was 86, he lived a very colourful life, someone who was very much loved by the Conservative family.
“I’m glad that I saw him recently, I have a copy of the book which he has just written, so I will make sure to read it. I’m really sad that he’s gone, we will miss him very much.”
