Award for Clive James for work across literature

multi-talented Clive James has been awarded the CBE. The poet, novelist and author of a string of best-selling memoirs is best known for introducing the nation to some of the stranger sights of Japanese television.

By The Newsroom

Published 31st Dec 2011, 06:00 BST

The award for services to literature and the media neatly sums up the career of a man once described by the New Yorker as “a brilliant bunch of guys”.

His hit show Clive James On Television ran for years and his wry commentary on programmes including the Japanese gameshow Endurance made him a household name.

James was born in Sydney, Australia, and came in 1961 to England, where he made a career in journalism including a successful stint as a prominent literary critic and then television columnist for The Observer.

His memoirs recounting his journey to literary London have become best-sellers.

The father of two, who is married to academic Prue Shaw, was diagnosed with leukaemia, kidney failure and lung disease last year.