Tributes have poured in following the death of Jewish PR whiz Lesley Land.
The 41-year-old, who died suddenly last Friday, had racked up over two decades of experience in the television industry, recently working on David Baddiel’s Jews Don’t Count documentary.
The Channel 4 publicist joined the UK public broadcaster back in 2014 as publicity manager for comedy and entertainment. She had recently been working across the channel’s factual entertainment, features and daytime programming.
Ms Land was the daughter of talent agent Anita and the niece of Ofcom chair and broadcasting veteran Lord Grade. A Channel 4 spokesperson acknowledged how Ms Land had spearheaded publicity campaigns for some of its most successful shows, including Gogglebox, The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, and Stand Up To Cancer.
“Lesley was a wonderful friend, a generous colleague, and made tremendous fun wherever she went. But ultimately, family was at the core of Lesley’s life,” they said in a statement, adding: “Our hearts go out to them at this devastating time.”
Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon described Ms Land as “enthusiastic, expert, fun and full of joy; a light has been extinguished and it has happened far too soon” and a “warm delight” to have as a colleague.
In 2019 Ms Land joked via Twitter that Siobhan "Shiv" Roy, a character in the hit HBO comedy-drama Succession, was based on her.
The series was written by cult sitcom Peep Show co-creator Jesse Armstrong.
When author Michael Hogan tweeted Ms Land, "You even dress like Shiv and have her hair (ish)," the former Peep Show publicist replied, "Definitely based on me. From my Peep Show days working with Jesse. IT HAS TO BE RIGHT?".
Showbiz journalist and JC columnist Nicole Lampert told the JC that around 500 people attended Ms Land's funeral and shiva on Sunday 11 December.
"People were told to wear colour so it felt very much like a celebration of Lesley’s life and people from all walks of life came together to offer their memories of her. I even saw a few pink feather boas," Ms Lampert explained.
“Lesley was a well-loved member of the showbiz fraternity and a brilliant PR to work with. You felt like she was on your side. People from across our industry from David Baddiel to Trevor McDonald, Anne Robinson and scores of journalists were present to pay their respects. Everyone was so shaken by the tragic circumstances."
Comedian and anti-racism campaigner David Baddiel, who recently worked with Ms Land on Jews Don’t Count, noted how the 2022 documentary, which explored left-wing antisemitism, mattered to her personally, sharing a screenshot of Ms Land’s final Instagram post in which she stated that she had never been more proud to contribute to a programme in the two decades she had been “at this lark”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6ZRxjsPHE/
“I found that very moving at the time, and now, incredibly so. It’s rare to find that sort of passion in TV, and she channelled it into amazing work publicising the film,” Mr Baddiel wrote.
“Beyond that, she was simply a joy: fun and upbeat and insightful and boundlessly energetic. I was very much looking forward to working with her again, and very sad that now I won’t,” the Jews Don’t Count presenter went on.
TV presenter and barrister Rob Rinder, a longtime friend of Ms Land, also paid tribute to her in his Evening Standard column on Monday.
"She was the type of spectacular person that you didn’t believe existed anymore," he explained.
"In fact, I’d always meant to write a column about her (she actually needs a whole shelf of elegant, witty, Mitford-y books to do her justice).
"She had the put-downs of Dorothy Parker and the discerningly cool, indifferent style of Anna Wintour. Going back through our WhatsApps to each other, I was cry-laughing the whole time.
"Every one of her lines glittered. I once wrote to her, 'I wish you the gift of seeing yourself the way I (and the rest of the world) sees you'. She was, in every conceivable sense, magnificent," he wrote.
Ms Land also repeatedly collaborated with Jewish entertainer Miriam Margoyles, including on the 2021 series Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland and Beyond, with the Harry Potter alumna describing her as “superb, hard-working and gifted”.
“I can’t bear to think of her passionate spirit, sense of fun, and energy extinguished; the light she shed will be felt in the industry for a long time,” Ms Margoyles continued.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies recalled his memories working with Ms Land during his first stint as the programme’s top dog in the 2000s, describing her as “funny, ferocious and first to the fight” and said they continued their friendship beyond their period as colleagues.
Mike Cotton, the deputy creative director at Studio Lambert, the company behind Gogglebox, described Ms Land’s dedication to the show, writing: “She was so proud of working with the cast and would always go the extra mile for them. We all adored her and loved working with her and will hold in our hearts her utter professionalism, her love of life, and her passion.”
The fly-on-the-wall reality series, which shows the commentary of different people viewing various television programmes, included a tribute to Ms Land at the close of Sunday evening’s episode.
This moved me to tears at the end of #Gogglebox. So glad they did this. It was a show she loved working on and I will really miss our chats about it. Rest well, Lesley. pic.twitter.com/0ZiDHmZR7W
— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) December 9, 2022
Ms Land is survived by her parents Brook and Anita and her brother Daniel.
