Dennis Potter's wife dies of cancer

THE WIFE of the television playwright Dennis Potter has died of cancer, just weeks after he made a poignant revelation on television about his own impending death from the disease.

Mr Potter's agent, Judy Daish, said last night that the playwright was devastated by his wife's death and was 'extremely ill'. His health had deteriorated sharply since his TV appearance, she added.

Margaret Potter, 60, died on Sunday in St Michael's Hospice at Bartestree, near Hereford. She spoke last year of the care her husband had shown as she battled against breast cancer.

After undergoing a mastectomy she said: 'It is so ironic - I have spent so much time taking care of Dennis through his illness and now the position has totally changed. He has been a tower of strength. One of us has got to die at some stage. I am sure Dennis would survive - it would just be different. We have known each other for 35 years so of course there is a dependency there.'

Dennis Potter, whose television writing includes the series Pennies From Heaven and The Singing Detective, has spoken of his wife as 'my rock, my centre'.

In his moving interview with Melvyn Bragg in April, Mr Potter, 58, praised her for caring for him during his bouts of ill health.

Ms Daish said yesterday that he had completed both the four-part serials he was writing for television.