AA Gill dies, weeks after revealing cancer battle

British restaurant critic Adrian Anthony Gill has died aged 62, just three weeks after he revealed that he was fighting cancer.

The columnist, who used the byline AA Gill told the UK's Sunday Times newspaper in an interview, 3 weeks ago, that he had been diagnosed with the "full English" of cancers.

The father of four, who was educated at the independent St Christopher's School and had been married to current Home Secretary Amber Rudd during the 1990s, had said he had no regrets about the diagnosis.

The diagnosis had prompted his engagement to his partner of 23 years, Nicola Formby, with whom he had two children.

In his Sunday Times interview, headlined "I'm elated to get married - oh, and I'm ill", Gill said he was grateful for having the good fortune of becoming a lifestyle journalist. His final column will be featured in tomorrow's edition of the British paper.

Friends and colleagues at the newspaper were informed of his death by editor Martin Ivens, who described the celebrated critic as "a giant among journalists". 

 "It is with profound sadness that I must tell you that our much-loved colleague Adrian Gill died this morning," reads Ivens' email.

"Adrian was stoical about his illness, but the suddenness of his death has shocked us all. Characteristically he has had the last word, writing an outstanding article about coming to terms with his cancer in tomorrow's Sunday Times Magazine.

"He was the heart and soul of the paper. His wit was incomparable, his writing was dazzling and fearless, his intelligence was matched by compassion. Adrian was a giant among journalists. He was also our friend. We will miss him."