about Monkey Dust. Thompson was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2005. Treated at a London hospital, he married Whadcock on Monday 7 November 2005, before dying later that day. The British Comedy Awards had planned to present him with a Jury's Award in December, with executive producer Michael Hurll stating that "It's sad he won't be there to receive it, but the legacy of his enduringly popular series lives on". Upon learning of his death, BBC One controller Peter Fincham said Thompson was "that rarity in television – the talented, single-minded, subversive maverick" and that his death would "leave a big hole in the comedy world". Fincham's comments were echoed by BBC Two controller Roly Keating, who stated that "Harry was a truly independent spirit and one of the funniest people I've ever known". His literary agent Bill Hamilton told BBC News that Thompson had been "plainly a genius". In a 2005 episode of Have I Got News For You, featuring Alexander Armstrong as host and Fi Glover and Ian McMillan as guest panellists, a message stating "In Memory of Harry Thompson, the first producer of Have I Got News For You (1960–2005)" was displayed. Bibliography Books References Footnotes Bibliography External links Reports Harry Thompson's death, BBC News Telegraph obituary Independent obituary Nationwide: Cherwell Headline – Could You Rape This Woman? – archive footage of Thompson discussing a controversial headline published during his time as editor Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford BBC radio producers Burials at Brompton Cemetery Deaths from lung cancer in England English biographers English male screenwriters English television producers People educated at Highgate School People from Highgate 1960 births 2005 deaths English male novelists 20th-century English novelists 20th-century biographers 20th-century English male writers English male non-fiction writers 20th-century English screenwriters Male biographers