Britain’s most famous astrologer Mystic Meg has died aged 80 from a short illness – just weeks after being hospitalised with the flu.
The iconic astrologer, who shot to fame with her weekly National Lottery predictions, passed away at 3.45am on Thursday morning.
It comes after the legendary horoscope reader, real name Margaret Lake, was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, last month.
Tributes have poured in for the star, who lived alone with her seven cats in a three-bedroom flat in Notting Hill. She previously said the feline friends had ‘found her and moved in.’
Her agent of 34 years, Dave Shapland, told the Sun: ‘Without any question, she was Britain’s most famous astrologer by a million miles.
Mystic Meg (pictured) has died aged 80 after losing her battle with a short illness
The horoscope reader, real name Margaret Lake, was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London , last month with the flu
‘Nobody came close to Meg in that respect. She was followed by millions in this country and also around the world.
‘She even became part of the English language – if a politician, somebody from showbiz or ordinary people in the street are asked a tricky question they will say ”Who do you think I am, Mystic Meg?”… It shows what an impact she made.’
Piers Morgan today described her as ‘Britain’s most famous astrologer’ and a ‘fascinatingly mysterious lady who loved her work with a passion but was rarely seen or heard in public.’
He added: ‘I was her editor at the News of the World for several years and she was extraordinarily professional in everything she did. A master of her very popular craft.’
Former editor of the Sun Kelvin MacKenzie today said Meg never married, after the ‘big love of her life’ tragically died in a car crash. He added that she ‘made millions from the stars’.
Meg wrote a horoscope column for the Sun for 23 years.
Adding to the tributes, magician Uri Geller said Meg was ‘so identifiable by name and image’, branding her ‘the quintessential fortune teller who brought mystery and mystique to millions of believers.’
He added: ‘She defied the dreary sceptics, as did her fans. Much love and positive energy, Meg, on your onward journey.’
Former world boxing heavyweight champion Frank Bruno also paid his respects on Twitter. He said he and Meg worked together ‘a few times on TV’, adding that she was a ‘charming lady’.
Meg, who was of Romany descent, was born in a maternity home in Lancashire in 1942.
Meg (pictured as a student) studied English at the University of Leeds and joined the now defunct News Of The World newspaper as a sub-editor, before eventually becoming sub-editor of its weekend supplement Sunday
Piers Morgan today described Mystic Meg (pictured) as ‘Britain’s most famous astrologer’ and a ‘fascinatingly mysterious lady who loved her work with a passion but was rarely seen or heard in public’
Andi Peters and Mystic Meg on stage at the Live and Kicking Red Nose Awards show broadcast in 1995
Over the years she also released a number of books including Mystic Meg’s Astrolife and Mystic Meg’s Lucky Numbers For Love Life And The Lottery (Pictured: Bob Monkhouse and Mystic Meg)
She grew up in a terraced house in Accrington, where she was taught astrology by her Russian gypsy grandmother – although becoming a soothsayer was not her immediate career choice.
Meg studied English at the University of Leeds and joined the now defunct News Of The World newspaper as a sub-editor. She moved her way up and became deputy editor of its weekend supplement Sunday.
She would make the shift to horoscopes in the 1980s, when she changed her name to Eileen Anderson and became the paper’s astrologer – before later rebranding as Mystic Meg.
She then shot to stardom by becoming among the first to offer horoscope readings over the phone in 1989.
Her service broke all BT records and she quickly became the most successful phone-line astrologer in the world.
Meg landed another big break on the National Lottery TV show, which she featured on from 1994.
Each Saturday night the ‘seer’ would emerge from a cloud of smoke and stare into her crystal ball – left to her by her grandmother – to predict who would win the jackpot.
Her regular spot was dropped by the BBC in a programme shake-up in 1997 but the following year she made a comeback for a sketch alongside presenter Bradley Walsh. In the sketch, Walsh’s brother Del, who runs a market stall, tries to convince Meg of his own fortune-telling method – frying sausages.
National Lottery presenters, (left to right front row) Frank Bruno, Bob Monkhouse and Mystic Meg, celebrating the 100th jackpot draw with past winners (back left to right) Bob Westland (£3.7m), Ken Southwell (£900,000), Elaine Thompson (£2.7m), Peter Lavery (£10.2m) and Karl Crompton (£10.9m)
Magician Uri Geller said Meg was ‘so identifiable by name and image’, branding her ‘the quintessential fortune teller who brought mystery and mystique to millions of believers’
Meg appeared in a series of adverts for the soft drink Oasis in the 1990s and in 2015 was the face of the Grand National’s ‘You’re Guaranteed a Fortune’ campaign
Meg grew up in a terraced house in Accrington, where she was taught astrology by her Russian gypsy grandmother – although becoming a soothsayer was not her immediate career choice
Meg’s distinctive cloak and black bob hairdo helped make her a household name, and she signed multiple brand deals over the years.
She appeared in a series of adverts for the soft drink Oasis in the 1990s and in 2015 was the face of the Grand National’s ‘You’re Guaranteed a Fortune’ campaign.
The animal lover had a keen interest in horses and owned at least three racehorses.
In her practice, she worked with runes, crystal balls, I Ching, tarot and numerology.
According to astrological charts, Mystic Meg’s star sign was a Leo.
Over the years she also released a number of books including Mystic Meg’s Astrolife and Mystic Meg’s Lucky Numbers For Love Life And The Lottery.
A previous Lotto roll-over winner credited Meg with prompting her to check her ticket after she had hidden it in a biscuit tin next to her bed.
According to astrological charts, Mystic Meg’s star sign was a Leo. In her practice, she worked with runes, crystal balls, I Ching, tarot and numerology
Meg appeared in a series of adverts for the soft drink Oasis (pictured) in the 1990s and in 2015 was the face of the Grand National’s ‘You’re Guaranteed a Fortune’ campaign
After mother-of-four Mary Jones from Gwynedd, North Wales, won £9.3 million in 2004 she said: ‘I read Mystic Meg in The Sun and it said don’t forget to check your lottery ticket. I couldn’t believe it when I realised it had come true.’
The astrologer also thanked her lucky stars after she predicted that the racehorse Optimistic would win for her at a prestigious York meeting in 1997.
The Sun’s editor, Victoria Newton, said: ‘This is devastating news. We have lost an icon. Our brilliant and incomparable Meg was synonymous with The Sun – she was a total legend. We loved her and so did our readers.
‘For more than two decades Mystic Meg has been a must-read column and cemented her as Britain’s most famous astrologer.
‘She was a true professional whose guidance helped our readers daily – our postbag bears testament to this.’