Remembering Kate Saunders: Award-Winning Novelist and Journalist, Dies at 62

Kate Saunders, an award-winning novelist, and journalist, passed away at the age of 62, leaving behind a legacy of exceptional literary accomplishments. In 2014, she won the esteemed Costa Children’s Book Award for her book Five Children on the Western Front and was twice shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Saunders was not only a celebrated author but also a well-known TV personality, having appeared on the sitcom Only Fools and Horses and various BBC arts programs. She graced the first episode of the topical news comedy show Have I Got News For You alongside comedian Sandi Toksvig. Saunders’ sister, Louisa Saunders, shared the news of her demise on Twitter, describing her as the warmest, bravest, most generous, and most brilliant woman she ever knew. Saunders’ literary works include The Belfry Witches, The Marrying Game, Storm In The Citadel, and The Prodigal Father, for which she won the Betty Trask Award in 1986. Her novel Five Children and The Land of Neverendings received Carnegie Medal nominations in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Saunders also contributed to reputable publications in the UK, including The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, and Cosmopolitan. Only Fools and Horses’ official account paid an online tribute to Saunders, commemorating her legacy.