Neil Reading, UK entertainment PR figure who worked with John Cleese and Lenny Henry, dies at 56

Neil Reading, a prominent UK entertainment publicist whose clients included comedy figures John Cleese and Lenny Henry, died on July 30 at age 56, according to Deadline. The entertainment trade publication said Reading died after a short illness, and noted that tributes appeared in outlets including The Sun.

Reading ran his own public relations firm, Neil Reading PR, and built a reputation in the UK entertainment industry for managing publicity and media relationships for high-profile performers. Deadline described him as a widely recognized figure in the UK entertainment world.

The client list attributed to Reading in the coverage included John Cleese, a landmark name in British comedy and television, and Lenny Henry, whose career spans stand-up, acting, and television hosting. Deadline also cited other well-known talent associated with Reading’s work, including Dawn French.

Deadline’s report framed Reading as an established presence in entertainment publicity rather than a performer or executive, with his role focused on communications and publicity strategy. Publicists in the entertainment sector typically coordinate press access, promotional campaigns, and media schedules around productions, tours, and other releases.

The circumstances of Reading’s death were reported as a short illness, with no further medical details included in the Deadline summary. The trade publication did not provide information on a memorial schedule or surviving family members in the portion of material available for this report.

Reading’s death comes as UK entertainment publicity continues to rely heavily on traditional media engagement alongside digital and streaming platforms, where high-profile appearances and press coverage often shape audience awareness. As a veteran publicist, Reading’s work would have been closely tied to major campaigns across comedy, television, and related entertainment programming.

Next steps for people in the industry who worked with Reading, including performers and production teams, were not specified in the Deadline report. Any information about a service, an estate spokesperson, or the continued operations of Neil Reading PR would require confirmation from additional statements or official channels.