Piers Morgan pays tribute to Michael Winner as friends, fans and fellow stars remember the late director

Food critic and director Michael Winner

The CNN host was one of many stars to praise Michael, who lost his battle with liver disease, and took on Twitter to express his sadness.

He wrote on his account: "Very sad to hear Michael Winner has died. Hilarious, often proposterous, always generous, highly intelligent man. And terrific writer. RIP. [sic]"

Comedian John Cleese made a post on his website about Michael, who passed away aged 77, describing him as a kind and dear friend.

The former 'Monty Python' star said: "He was the dearest, kindest, funniest and most generous of friends. I shall miss him terribly."

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber offered his thoughts on the former newspaper columnist via his Twitter account.

The famed composer wrote on the social networking site: "True originals come rarely in a lifetime. Madeleine and I will deeply miss you. ALW (sic)"

The 'Death Wish' director is survived by his wife, Geraldine Lynton-Edwards, who he married in 2011 - 55 years after first dating her.

He revealed last year he had been given between 18 months and two years to live, and had looked into the possibility of assisted suicide, although he decided against it.

He did state he wasn't scared of dying, a believer in a person's right to end their life once it was "no good for them".

Michael said: "People should have the right to terminate their own life. I'm very happy to snuff it. I've had enough time on Earth. I'd be happy if someone gave me the plug to pull."

CNN's Piers Morgan welcomes Madonna to twitter by banning her from his show

Piers Morgan and Madonna

The CNN host used the ‘Hung Up’ hit maker’s debut on the micro-blogging site on Tuesday to inform her she will never be welcome as a guest on his programme.

He wrote: "Welcome to twitter. You're still banned from my show. Love Piers X."

But the 53-year-old’s manager Guy Oseary, tweeted back, "Really?" along with a letter from Pier’s UK show asking Madonna to appear.

Defending himself, Piers explained: "Madonna has only been banned from my CNN show, not my UK show, which sent that invite. But I'm now banning her from that too.

“Oh, and I'm afraid you're banned from all my shows too @guyoseary- guilt by association, sorry.”
According to TMZ.com, Madonna – who joined twitter for one day only to promote her new album ‘MDNA’ - doesn’t know what sparked the feud. A source said: "She doesn't even know who he is."

Piers has previously revealed the bad feelings stem back to his days as an editor for the Daily Mirror newspaper.

He told Access Hollywood: “Madonna and I, we’ve never really seen eye-to-eye. There was a bread roll throwing incident in London in the mid 90s; there was an incident at a hotel in the south of France [at] the

Cannes Film Festival involving a photographer and a bodyguard; there’s been an incident involving a pub owned by her recently departed husband, Guy Ritchie, where my brother was the manager.

“You know the worst thing Madonna did to me? Madonna’s publicist once said to me, ‘Listen to me, Madonna is not pregnant’, when I was running a newspaper. And I said, ‘Are you sure?’ She said, ‘Listen to me, Piers. Madonna is not pregnant’.

“The next day, they announced [the news] on a rival newspaper’s website. There’s a series of crimes.”

Piers Morgan claims Madonna's performance at the Super Bowl was "gruesome" - VIDEO

Madonna playing at the Super Bowl

The talk show host - who has had a long-running feud with the 'Hung Up' singer - was not impressed with Madonna's routine during the halftime show of the NFL game on Sunday because she looked like a "drunken aunt".

He told TV host Chelsea Handler: "That Super Bowl performance - it was like watching your mad drunken aunt at Christmas, wasn't it? I keep reading all these celebrities tweeting like, 'Wasn't she awesome?' No she wasn't! She was gruesome!

"But at least I've found that I have one common ground with Madonna: neither of us have sung live at the Super Bowl. She was lip syncing the whole damn thing. I was singing along with her and trust me, she wasn't singing."
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Piers - who has banned Madonna from his talk show - has made no secret of his dislike of the 'Material Girl' hitmaker and has often spoken about several clashes they have had.

He once said: "There was a bread roll throwing incident in London in the mid '90s; there was an incident at a hotel in the south of France at the Cannes Film Festival involving a photographer and a bodyguard. And there's been an incident involving a pub owned by her recently departed husband, Guy Ritchie, where my brother was the manager."

Here's the full show:

Alec Baldwin mocks Piers Morgan on CNN show with silly impersonation - VIDEO

Piers Morgan and Alec Baldwin

In an upcoming interview with CNN host Piers Morgan, actor Alec Baldwin turns the tables and begins to ask the British host in a fake, yet well done, British accent questions on his own love life.

"But I must ask you Piers, have you ever been properly in love? I was asked by your staff to pose this very question to you,” said Baldwin in his British impersonation.

The two were chatting about life at the time, and Baldwin went on to elaborate how the relationship he is in at the moment is the first time he’s ever been “properly in love” and that the rest was just “child’s play.”

Morgan was a great sport, laughing along with British Baldwin and even complimenting his accent.

Catch the video below:




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CNN host Piers Morgan has quit 'America's Got Talent' - VIDEO

Piers Morgan on CNN

The TV star has stepped down from the judging panel of the talent show after six years because he can no longer juggle his commitments with his CNN programme 'Piers Morgan Tonight'.

However, Piers has joked he is free to host the Oscars after Eddie Murphy sensationally quit following the resignation of producer Brett Ratner.

Speaking on his current affairs show last night, he said: "Well, members of the Academy, I’m available. My schedule just cleared a bit, because I can exclusively reveal that I’m leaving 'America’s Got Talent'.
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"I’ve been a judge since the show began six years ago, I’ve loved every single second, but I’ve discovered that juggling, to my surprise, really is a bit more difficult than I thought. So I’m going to focus on what will be a huge year here at CNN, with the upcoming election."

Piers - whose second wife Celia Walden is currently expecting the couple's first and the British star's fourth child - also joked his co-stars Sharon Osbourne, Howie Mandel and Nick Cannon will be "relieved" to see him go.

He said: "I wanna congratulate Sharon, Howie and Nick who will doubtless be relieved that they no longer have to work with me."


See his announcement here: