Lena Zavaroni dies
Former child singing star Lena Zavaroni has died, aged 35.
Ms Zavaroni fought a long battle with anorexia, and had been in hospital for several weeks. She is thought to have developed an infection after an operation, and members of her family were with her when she died at the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff.
A hospital spokesman said: "We are sad to confirm that Miss Zavaroni died at our hospital where she had been receiving medical treatment for the past four weeks. "All the medical staff and nurses who cared for her send their sympathies to the family.
Ms Zavaroni, from Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, shot to fame after appearing in Opportunity Knocks in 1974, where she had an unprecedented five-week run. This was followed by the chart-topping Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me and at the age of 12 she sang for the Queen at a Royal Variety performance. But the following year she developed the slimming disease that was to plague her for years.
Her cousin Margaret told the Scottish Daily Record after her death: "The whole family is devastated. She said Lena's father, Victor, could hardly speak when he told relatives of the death. Lena developed anorexia aged just 13 and fought the disease as hard as she could," she said. "Doctors performed an operation to help her eat but she developed an infection and wasn't strong enough to recover from it. Our only comfort is that other girls with anorexia will take something from Lena's death. She is an example of what can happen when young women develop an obsession with their weight."
Her cousin Margaret said funeral arrangements had not yet been decided, and it was not yet known if it would take place in Rothesay or in England. She said Lena's father Victor, his wife Christine, and Lena's sister Carla, who lives near London, were with her when she died. "It is devastating", said Ms Zavaroni. "She had been in hospital for about two weeks, and the operation was to help her eat, but she developed an infection. I still can't believe it's happened. "I was on the phone to my uncle Victor last night, and we were all crying - we were all too upset." She said Lena's father was too upset to speak publicly about her death.
Singer Bonnie Langford, who was at stage school with Lena, said in a statement: "I am deeply saddened that such a lovely person is no longer with us. She was an incredibly gifted and very sweet person. It is a tragedy that she has died so young."
Former Fleet Street editor and radio and TV presenter Derek Jameson expressed his sadness at the news of Zavaroni's death. He said she had appeared on his Sky TV chat show Jameson Tonight and hadstruck him as "bright and very bubbly". He said: "Only 35. What a tragic waste of a life. She showed incredible potential in her early years and then she was struck down by this terrible disease anorexia nervosa. She was destroyed by something as ridiculous as an eating disorder. Surely something more can be done to help these young people who have this terribly serious problem." Mr Jameson added: "She was bright and bubbly but she was also very nervous. I think her great handicap was that she lacked confidence. When you interviewed her you felt she was making an immense effort to be a star and it was all a bit much for her. She lacked that vital spark of confidence that takes you to the top."
