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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Columnist Dempster dies aged 65 | Columnist Dempster dies aged 65 |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| British journalist and former gossip columnist Nigel Dempster has died at the age of 65 after a long illness. | British journalist and former gossip columnist Nigel Dempster has died at the age of 65 after a long illness. |
| He was an author, broadcaster and Daily Mail diary writer. | He was an author, broadcaster and Daily Mail diary writer. |
| The newspaper's editor, Paul Dacre, said Mr Dempster was "a treasured friend and a brilliant colleague" whose "scoops were the stuff of legend". | The newspaper's editor, Paul Dacre, said Mr Dempster was "a treasured friend and a brilliant colleague" whose "scoops were the stuff of legend". |
| Mr Dempster had a daughter, Louisa Beatrix and a stepdaughter, Emily Kate Godolphin Harris, from his second marriage to Lady Camilla Osborne. | Mr Dempster had a daughter, Louisa Beatrix and a stepdaughter, Emily Kate Godolphin Harris, from his second marriage to Lady Camilla Osborne. |
| In 2005, he was named as one of the 40 most influential journalists of the previous four decades in poll for media magazine Press Gazette. | In 2005, he was named as one of the 40 most influential journalists of the previous four decades in poll for media magazine Press Gazette. |
| He was credited with creating the modern newspaper gossip column. | He was credited with creating the modern newspaper gossip column. |
| 'Deflating egos' | 'Deflating egos' |
| Mr Dacre said: "Nigel was... one of the best diary writers Fleet Street has ever known. | |
| "His scoops were the stuff of legend and his zest for life inexhaustible. | "His scoops were the stuff of legend and his zest for life inexhaustible. |
| "He liked nothing more than to deflate the egos of the idle rich and puncture the pomposity of the powerful. | "He liked nothing more than to deflate the egos of the idle rich and puncture the pomposity of the powerful. |
| "It made him one of the most talked-about figures Fleet Street has ever seen. We will all miss him." | "It made him one of the most talked-about figures Fleet Street has ever seen. We will all miss him." |
| Mr Dempster began his career in the 1960s when he teamed up with his friend, the photographer Lord Lichfield, to cover the premier social events of the time. | Mr Dempster began his career in the 1960s when he teamed up with his friend, the photographer Lord Lichfield, to cover the premier social events of the time. |
| He worked first for the Daily Express and then the Daily Mail, which he joined in 1971. | He worked first for the Daily Express and then the Daily Mail, which he joined in 1971. |
| He was given his own diary page by the late Sir David English, who edited the Mail for 20 years. | |
| Princess Margaret | |
| During his career, Mr Dempster was credited with breaking a number of big royal stories including the news of Prince Andrew's engagement to Sarah Ferguson. | |
| He also wrote a number of books, mostly behind-closed-doors accounts of the Royal Family, including one on the life of the Queen's sister Princess Margaret. | |
| Mr Dempster was married twice, first to Countess Emma Magdalen de Bendern, a daughter of Count John Gerard de Bendern. | |
| His second marriage was in 1977 to Lady Osborne, daughter of the 11th Duke of Leeds. |