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From The Times

March 4, 2008

Newsreader Carol Barnes ‘dying’ after stroke

Fiona Hamilton

The former newsreader Carol Barnes, the face of ITV news for nearly 30 years, was gravely ill in hospital last night after suffering a severe stroke.

Doctors said that she was unlikely to survive as her family, including her 26-year-old son James, rushed to her bedside at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Barnes, 63, became a household name during her celebrated career at ITN, which included a long stint hosting its flagship programme News at Ten and being named Newscaster of the Year in 1984.

Recently she appeared on television screens to present a documentary about Ed Mitchell, her former co-host, and his battle with alcohol problems. Her last work for ITN included presenting the news on its 24-hour digital channel as well as the financial programme Simply Money.

She has been unconscious in hospital since collapsing at her seaside home in Brighton on Sunday. Late last night a spokesman for Barnes confirmed that she was seriously ill in hospital. “Her son James and her closest friends have asked for her privacy to be respected,” he said.

Barnes enjoyed huge success in her professional career at ITN, where she spent several years reporting before becoming one of the station’s most senior and respected newscasters.

Her personal life was beset by tragedy, however, when her 24-year-old daughter Clare, whose father is the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Denis MacShane, was killed in a parachuting accident in Australia in 2004. Clare, who lived in Australia, died when both her parachutes malfunctioned while she was skydiving with her boyfriend near Melbourne.

Barnes struggled with the loss, saying in 2005 that “a big part of me still doesn’t accept that she’s dead”. Several months later she lost her driving licence and was dismissed as a magistrate when she was caught drink-driving on Brighton’s seafront. While she said the incidents were unrelated, she told of being plunged into depression after losing her daughter.

“There were times when I’d wake up and I didn’t want to get out of bed,” she said. “In the early stages when I wasn’t working I thought, ‘Sod it’, and I’d stay there.”

Barnes began her adult life as a teacher but joined ITN as a reporter in 1975. After she split with Mr MacShane, whom she never married, she married Nigel Thompson, a cameraman. After 17 years together, they separated in 1999. Barnes stopped working for ITV after her daughter’s death.

While she stepped away from television work after the death of her daughter, Barnes was a columnist for several glossy magazines including Absolute London.

She also co-runs Greenwich Village PR, a media-training company. She has worked for other television companies such as Meridian, where she regularly fronted their weekly political programme.

She has chaired a number of conferences, including a government-sponsored summit on age discrimination, and made videos for companies such as Norwich Union, AXA Investments and BAE Systems.

She has made cameo appearances in several films.

May you now be with your daughter and at peace .You will always be remembered but a Mum and daughter are a unit .
God Bless x
Ann Portas Chichester West Sussex

Ann Portas, Chichester, UK

a mother is always looking after her child and now you can do your job again x a far better place you have gone to god bless

jo, worksop, notts

you are now at peace in a better place and re united with your daughter she needed you more than us God bless x

Elaine Edwards, Holywell, Flintshire

I read with sadness one of the comments by S. Wynn-Jones, Taunton. How absolutely cruel to speculate on how Carol Barnes death was caused. Not one mention of the grief she suffered and would always be suffering at the loss of her beloved daughter. You have no compassion only accussation.
Carol has now passed away and will be reunited with her daughter. She will be remembered as a great mum and a great personality. A friend of ours lost her son and as she said - they say time heals - it doesn't - they say life goes on - it doesn't for some.

david whyte, sheffield,

I hope your finally at peace carol. with ur much luved daughter. a mother never gets over losing her child because thats the wrong way round, no mother should go through that.

rip xxxx

vikz, barrow in furness, cumbria

Carol is now with her daughter. I hope her family take
comfort from that. You have many memories & stories to
tell. What a great epitaph for a great woman.

Diane Watson, Edinburgh, Scotland

So sad to hear this tragic news, My sincere condolences to all her family especially to James her son. Good night Carol sleep tight.

Linda, Skegness, Lincolnshire

Very sad and shocked to hear about the terrible news of Carol Barnes. We all loved and admired Carol when she was presenting the various news programmes on television. On hearing that she had become ill earlier in the week our prayers were very much with her and her family. She will be in our prayers and will always remain in our memories. God bless you Carol.

Paul McStay, Roscommon, Ireland

I was saddened to hear of your illness my prayers our with you and your family, and I hope you make a speedy recovery.
The loss of a child is probably the hardest thing to cope with but I am sure that claire qould want you to live on for her.

eileen smith, GUILDFORD, UNITED KINGDOM

I am so shocked to hear that you are so ill, Carol. I am not religious but I do believe in the power of prayer. I am now praying, along with many other people for your full recovery. Thinking of you, your family and your friends. XXXXX

Barbara Brooks, St Ives, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

very touched to hear of CB's demise and the loss of her daughter in such tragic circumstances. from personal, when a mother loses a child it is THE most crushing loss and leaves a hole that can never be filled.

thoughts are with you and your family

BD MATHERS, birmingham,

Carol thank you for your dedication to truth. May God be with you and all your family and friends at this time. Thank you for your work.

Adrian, leicester, england

Adrian Wait, Leicester, England

Dear Carol
I am so sorry to hear that you are so ill, you brought much sunshine into our lives & homes. i will pray so hard for you to get well again, also my thoughts & prayers are with your family.
God Bless You.

Angie, Kilham, England

Everyone in this house is sending you their love Carol. It's been a joy to see you out and about in Brighton over the last twelve years since we moved down, always at the best parties usually chatting with Carol Cleveland. We hope to see you at an event soon, peace and best wishes

Ralph Brown, Brighton,

carol our thoughts are with you & your family at this very sad time we do hope you get over your illness very soon god bless sue from rugeley xxx

sue, rugeley staffs, england

Carol many around the world are hoping you will pull through,
even though you may be longing to be back with your daughter.

My thoughts are with you.

KL, Oxford, Oxon

I was shocked, and saddened to hear the news about Carol -although I've never met her, I felt as though I knew her, she was in my living room ever night! My prayers for a recovery are with you.

Eileen, Burnley, Lancs,

How sad to hear the news of Carol's severe illness, you are in our thoughts. God Bless

Bob Cooper, Consett, Co Durham,

What a shock!, you are always in my memory as the smiling face on the news programmes, please get well, you deserve too!

All the best from California.

m kilner, Los Angeles,

the world will be a sadder place without carol

harold milne, marykirk, scotland

What a sad day this is, your family are in our thoughts and in our prayers. God bless x

S Howard, Blackburn, Lancashire

A wonderfully professional presenter from a golden era in broadcasting. Please get well Carol.

Rich, Milan, Italy

saddened by the news, our thoughts with carol and her family, her daughter will be waiting with open arms - god bless

miss hodgson, barnsley, west yorkshire

I am just an ordinary viewer,but I felt so sad when I heard that Ms Barnes had suffered a major stroke I hope she will make a full recovery even though medics have said it is unlikely, my prayers are also with her family.
BD

bd, gwent, wales

my prayers and thoughts are with all carol's family and friends

annette, bolton,

my love is with her and her family as this very difficult time,
may she pull through this for her familys sake
teigan and family x
god bless

teigan cook, hartlepool, england

I agree with Alan...she was the cream and I feel she was the friend in the corner of my lounge. Some newsreaders you love and then there are the others too,

I am lucky to be a stroke survivor ( I was 47 when I had mine). My thoughts and prayers are with Carol and her family.

Jenny (Preston & Doha), Doha, Qatar

carol you can do it.stay strong.we did and won

steve, leeds,

Pure class. See, you don't have to have a plunging neckline down to your feet to present TV programmes as a woman and do it fantastically. Prayers are with you and your family Carol, truly hope you pull through.

MN, London, UK

come on carol , please dont let us down i will pray for you to get better, you have had a sad time since the sad loss of your daughter she will be looking after you ,get better soon god bless you , from james crompton

james crompton, WIDNES, cheshire

She may pull through against all odds - let's hope so. I feel for her poor son - to loose his sister and now this.

Linda, Lancashire

Linda, Blackburn.,

yes there is always hope. Be positive -

nick, london, uk

Dear Carol
We miss you so much from your TV days and have often thought of you and how you were keeping ,well my wife and i hope and pray for a speedy recovery whatever happens you will remain in our hearts and thoughts.
BLESS YOU
Vicky&Brian Gouldthorp

brian gouldthorp, newport pagnell bucks, uk

To Ms S Wynn-Jones, I don't think speculating about the cause of the stroke is helpful to either Carol or her family. In fact it makes me extremely cross that you would even think of doing so at a time like this. Come on Carol, you can pull through this. There are a lot of people rooting for you.

Wendy , Watford, Herts

As a person who has suffered family loss through stroke I wish Carol all the best for a full recovery. Best wishes to all the family.

Carol, Hockley, UK

Wishing you a speedy recovery carol You have my prayers.

neil, stoke on trent, united kingdom

so sorry to hear this terrible news. soon you will be with your gorgeeous daughter whom you love and miss so dreadfully,
God Bless
Diana Milton, Dorset

diana mitlon, dorset,

You could just tell Carol is a wonderful person - as someone said above - from looking at her face. Doesn't look like she has a mean or bad bone in her body.
Do so hope she pulls through,
Judy, Welsh borders

Judy Allen, Hay on Wye,

I wish her a speedy recovery - nice lady !!!

Ian Payne, Walsall,

i wish you well and am thinking of you, my husband had a massive stroke when he was 46 years old (12 years ago) and one thing i can never forget is when the doctors came and told me to take our 2 year old son James to say goodbye to his daddy as they said there was only 5% chance that he would servive this, 12 years on and Tony is paralised down the left side but we are very happy and believe it or not we have a great life are are still very much in love, we now have another son Adam now who is nearly 8 years old, and although Tony will never work again and and i am a full time carer this has only brought us closer together and i wish Carol and all her friends and family all the best and hope they all have the strength to get through this, best wishes, sharon.

sharon salter, chichester, sussex

Our thoughts and well wishes are with you Carol and your family at this difficult time. We are sorry to hear of this tragic news and pray that you make a speedy and full recovery.

Marcia , London, UK

As another Mum with a James 28 and Clare 27 with your two at B.C. I am stunned it could so easily be any of us who met our children at the school gate nearly 20 years ago. Our family will be praying for you and your family.

Sue, Jersey [ previously Brighton], CI

So sorry to hear this very sad news.

Always such a professional lady - thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Marion Laurence, Bedford, UK

Get Well Soon Carol and Best Wishes to your Family

Martin Proctor, Leeds,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very sad time. I have always admired your work and felt deeply for you at the loss of your daughter. Keep fighting.

Denise Walker, Worthing, UK

i am so sorry to learn of the illness of Carol; she was always a pleasure to watch on the news a skiller orator. I lost my husband to a brain haemorrhage at Christmas so I know what the family are going through at this tragic time. I send my prayers and the intercession of St Pio to Carol and her family

patricia, belfast, northern ireland

I really hope you pull thru Carol. You sound such a lovely person and were always self effacing when you were a news reader, which is exactly how it should be.
Pat Lichfield

PatMcGregor, Lichfield, England

darling carol,ive cried buckets after hearing this sad news and prayed for your recovery,come on docs ! save this wonderful lady who will be very sadly missed,come on sweetheart fight on hunny,may god give her strength to survive,all my love and respect to her family love davexxxxmold north wales.

dave salmon, NEW BRIGHTON,MOLD, wales uk

Apart from being incredibly beautiful with her geometrically precise features Carol Barnes was the one newsreader whom one could always understand as she practised RP long after political correctness has caused other newsreaders to dumb down.

garth wiseman, london, england

Bless you Carol, I hope you get better. To have had suffered such a loss and the battles afterwards must be soul destroying.

Mike Jones, Farnborough, Hampshire

Very sad news. I hope Carol Barnes gets better.

Ben S, London, UK

Thoughts are with Carol's family and friends, a brave woman, please pull through and, if not, I sincerely hope you will be united with your late daughter.

E Craig, Gourin.,

You were a brillant neewsreader Carol get well soon.

David Taylor, Antrim, N Ireland

I am still recoveribg from a stroke I had 12 months ago age 60... I lost my eldst son in 1993 aged 25 in a car accident...
I will pray for Carol as miracles do still happen...
Dee, Australia

Dee, Melbourne, Australia

I watched Carol Barnes on the recent programme about Ed Mitchell & was reminded of how good a journalist & newsreader she is. I hope she recovers.

Marie Fitzsimons, Los Alcazares, Murcia Spain

I have been praying for you since hearing the news. Fight back Carol ! there is life after Stroke. From Reggie - a fellow stroke sufferer....( 22 months) PS I highly recommend an Acupuncturist! Dr Yong 01372 801005 work wonders for stroke patients!! I wish she came to the hospital the day I had my stroke.. I only found her 4 months later!

Dr Reggie Goh, surrey, UK

This looks like another very sad story of middle class bingeing and its tragic results. Something that is often covered up . My sympathy to her and her family and hope she pulls throught it.

Ms S Wynn-Jones, Taunton, UK
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I would suggest you wait until facts are revealed before speculating. Regardless of any cause, the tragic death of her daughter would perhaps be a more contributory factor, no?

David Ross, Glasgow, Scotland

you are all in my prays she is a lovely lady although i have never met her. god bless maryann birmingham

maryann m, birmingham, warwickshire

One of the best ever newsreaders. The current crop of overpaid and over-hyped image-obsessed ladies simply do not come anywhere near. God love you Carol.

Alan Thomas, Liverpool,

"Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." ~ Kahlil Gibran

Carol you will always live forever in our hearts.

S K Lin, Hong Kong, China

My family have suffered from strokes with subsequent death and I do hope and pray that Carol will fight this and come back to us.

Best wishes Carol for a speedy recovery.

Flo, Belfast, Northern Ireland

I have always admired her journalistic talents. She has remained part of our life. I do pray for her life. I too love Carol Barnes.

Vipool Kalyani, Wembley, Middlesex, U.K.

I survived 2 strokes(so far) so can she. keep fighting

alan, london,

My thoughts are with you and your family Carol - i really hope you pull through - you've been through too much already

Ashling, Ruthin, Denbigshire

This looks like another very sad story of middle class bingeing and its tragic results. Something that is often covered up . My sympathy to her and her family and hope she pulls throught it.

Ms S Wynn-Jones, Taunton, UK

Why do I feel so sad..i mean I didn't know this lady?

I think it's because to me she's a reminder of simpler less image obsessed world..where talent was more than skin deep.

I hope and pray she survives.

Jawed, London, UK

Carol - Thanks for being part of our lives.

Hope you pull through.

Steve, London,

A very sad story, of a very talented lady, any parent would understand the pain of loseing a child

Michael Rudd, Barking, Essex

Oh Lord this is desperately sad news. Carol was not only a brilliant professional, she was lovely and fun and kind and just the most wonderful person. I was privileged to work with her for many years. Carol, you're the best.

Phil HORNBY, London,

very sad news, the saying "the cream always comes to the top".......for me she was the best female news reader there ever was .

hope you pull through this carol .
love to her family

alan
liverpool

alan roberts, liverpool, merseyside

You allow into your home through the television variuos different people,over the years thay can becolm part of your family.Some of them you take into your heart and love .I have had three daughters who have grown up with Carol as a person to look up to. Today Carol her family and close friends are allin our prayers.

MARIANNE HAYTON, cranwell, /sleaford/LINCOLNSHIRE