Boris Johnson has provided an update as he admits a 'swirling tide of grief'.
The former prime minister and ex-Henley MP - who lives just outside of Wallingford with his family - has spoken out following the death of the journalist and commentator Rod Liddle.
Mr Liddle died on Sunday, August 2, after a short illness and having spent his career in journalism.
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As well as being editor of BBC Radio 4's Today between 1998 and 2002, he was also an author, broadcaster and columnist, with many of his pieces stoking controversy.
In addition, he was associate editor for political magazine The Spectator which Mr Johnson was editor of between 1999 and 2005.
The former PM has now written a comment piece for the magazine in which he explains why the recent news "has provoked such a swirling tide of grief among his millions of followers".
Mr Johnson said Mr Liddle's columns became "a haven, a refuge" in which the public were allowed to recognise common sense things that have since become "taboo" and to laugh at the absurdities of life.
He added that while other journalists had been "toning it down", Mr Liddle hadn't.
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"In the last few years he seemed to become more and more exceptional," said Mr Johnson, "still blazing away from his lonely but glorious redoubt".
Previously, Mr Johnson had said said he was "heartsick" about the death in a statement on social media.
He said: "Heartsick at the death of Rod Liddle - an outrageously funny and gifted writer with a beautiful conversational style."
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