Dawn French has shared a heartfelt tribute after news that her dear friend and publicist Neil Reading has died at the age of 56 following a brief illness.
In an Instagram post, the Vicar of Dibley actress described Reading as her "press representative and fierce protector" and said they worked together for over 30 years. She wrote: "This beautiful chap Neil Reading @neilreadingpr was my press representative and fierce protector. We worked together to promote work stuff for 30 odd years or more.. but along the way, we forged a profound friendship, based on trust & respect."
French added that Reading was there for her and her family in many tricky moments and helped her in ways she will never forget. "We shared tons of laughs and I learned so much from him... (although I didn't ever manage to master the filter button...) Most of all though, his intelligent & measured calm was a salve to my fears."
Jason Manford's tribute
Comedian Jason Manford also paid tribute on social media, saying: "Describing Neil as my PR manager does not come close to describing what he meant to me. He was a trusted friend of almost 20 years, a confidant and one of the most loyal, noble and brilliant men I have ever known."
Reading worked with a huge roster of celebrities including French, John Cleese, Victoria Wood, John Bishop, Sir Lenny Henry, and Paul McKenna. He was the founder of Neil Reading PR, established in 1992, which became a powerful entertainment, consumer and lifestyle PR agency.
West End successes
Reading was the driving force behind a number of West End successes, including High Society, Only Fools And Horses, and Fawlty Towers - The Play. His unexpected passing has sparked an overwhelming wave of tributes from the celebrities and friends whose careers he helped nurture.
