Merrily Watkins author and broadcaster Phil Rickman dies aged 74

Supernatural author Phil Rickman, whose work was once called “remarkable” by Stephen King, has died at the age of 74.

Mr Rickman, who was also a journalist and hosted a show on BBC Radio Wales, was best known for his Merrily Watkins mystery series.

The stories about a down-to-earth female priest and exorcist was adapted into a three-part ITV drama series starring Anna Maxwell Martin in 2015.

Mr Rickman, who was born in Lancashire and spent most of his adult life in Powys and Herefordshire, died on Tuesday.

Mr Rickman worked as a reporter for Wales Today in the 1980s, before going on to present his literature programme Phil the Shelf on BBC Radio Wales for more than 20 years.

His writing career began in 1991 with his debut novel Candlelight.

He wrote more than a dozen volumes of his Merrily Watkins mysteries, which has sold more than 350,000 copies.

Stephen King described Mr Rickman’s work as “remarkable… something new and creepy” while Jilly Cooper said his writing was “wonderfully spooky” and “utterly compelling”.

His final novel, The Echo of Crows, is due to be published next year.

Paying tribute, BBC Radio Wales editor Carolyn Hitt said: “Phil made a huge contribution to the station and Welsh literary life through his book programme Phil the Shelf, which he presented for many years.

“As an accomplished author himself, he brought a deep knowledge of the craft of writing to the programme – the interviews he conducted with some of the biggest names in fiction were always insightful and revealing.

“He was also particularly supportive of new writers, providing guidance and advice. Our thoughts are with Phil’s family and friends at this sad time.”

His editor, Sarah Hodgson, said: “His loss will be felt deeply by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him, and by his many readers around the world.”

She said it was “some consolation” he had delivered his final novel, a new case for Merrily Watkins, which would be published next year.

His agents Ed Wilson and Andrea Hewson said: “Crimewriting has lost a true one-off in Phil Rickman – a writer whose kindness and generosity, both with fans and other writers, was as well-known as his brilliant books.”

Mr Rickman was also a keen musician and regularly played gigs in Hay-on-Wye, Powys.