Tributes have been paid to the Welsh writer and broadcaster Mavis Nicholson who has died. The former presenter's family confirmed that she passed away on Thursday, September 8 at the age of 91 after a much-celebrated television career that spanned 25 years.
Dubbed the "greatest TV interviewer of all time," Mavis made her name as the host of programmes such as After Noon, Afternoon Plus and Mavis on 4 between the 1970s and 1990s. Not only did she become the first female chat-show host in the history of British television, she also interviewed some of the world's biggest stars, including David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor and Kenneth Williams.
Born in Briton Ferry in 1930, her career saw her present more programmes for BBC and Channel 4 including discussion series Predicaments and Right or Wrong, while she was also the resident agony aunt at The Oldie magazine and hosted a number of radio shows. Get the latest television news from WalesOnline sent straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.
Read more: 'Goddess of television' Mavis Nicholson is a broadcast heroine who gave masterclasses in a lost art
Her mastery of the long-form interview saw her placed in the context of her male peers, including Michael Parkinson and Terry Wogan. Actress Maureen Lipman, one of Mavis' good friends, said there was a "Frost-Nixon moment in every one of her interviews", while Eamonn Holmes described her as a "goddess of television".
A number of tributes have been paid to Mavis from her family, friends and former colleagues. They have described her as a "force of nature" and an "inspirational interviewer," adding that nobody in the field today compares to her talents.
Mavis' grandson, Ben Nicholson, said he was "incredibly sad" as he confirmed she passed away on Thursday. He added: "She was a force of nature, an incredible broadcaster, so open-hearted and interested in everyone. She was also my Nana and I miss her like mad. Hope she’s with my granddad Geoff now."
Radio presenter Peter Curren wrote: "Mavis Nicholson has gone. Brilliant, inspirational interviewer. The power of listening. Glad I got to tell her face-to-face ‘You are the best tv interviewer ever, Mavis’. She laughed. Check out her work." MP for Clwyd South Simon Baynes said she was "the most wonderful, magical person whom I liked and admired enormously," while sports journalist Graham Thomas paid tribute to a "genuine pioneering journalist".
Broadcaster Matthew Sweet said: "I don't think there's anyone as good as Mavis Nicholson around today. Her secret though, was pretty simple. She just listened to what her subjects were saying." While BBC Radio Wales editor Carolyn Hitt paid tribute to her "heroine," describing her as a "broadcasting pioneer, the greatest interviewer ever and a wonderful person, full of warmth and wit".
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