Leave your tribute in our online condolence book for legendary Sun astrologer Mystic Meg
BRITAIN’S legendary astrologer, Mystic Meg, has sadly passed away at the age of 80.
For almost 23 years millions of Sun readers have followed her daily horoscopes, and are now able to leave their own personal tribute in our online condolence book.
Last month Meg – real name Margaret Lake – was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, suffering from flu.
She died at 3.45am this morning.
The beloved astrologer was a well-known TV personality in the 1990s, appearing on the National Lottery.
She has written horoscopes for the Sun for more than two decades.
Meg’s agent of 34 years, Dave Shapland, said: “Without any question, she was Britain’s most famous astrologer by a million miles.
“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.”
Today, The Sun invites readers to leave their own personal message in our online book of condolences.
You can fill out the box above, writing any memories or tributes you would like to share.
Sun 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.
“One of my favourite memories of Meg is when all the Spice Girls came to the office, just as they were riding high at number one.
“We planned a tour for them but all they wanted to do was meet Mystic Meg!
“You know you’re a true icon when the only person Victoria Beckham is interested in is you.
“Farewell Meg. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.”
Piers Morgan said: “Mystic Meg was 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.
“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.”
Margaret Anne Lake was born on Monday, July 27, 1942, at a maternity home in Accrington, Lancs.
She pioneered horoscope readings on the phone and when the service started in 1989, it broke all BT records.
Meg fast became the world’s most successful phone-line astrologer, and a household institution thanks to the National Lottery TV show.
Meg lived alone in a three bedroom flat in London’s Notting Hill which she shared with seven cats that she said found her and moved in.
The mid-Nineties saw her biggest postbag ever – from Manchester United fans angry that Meg had – correctly – predicted their team would lose to Everton in the FA Cup final.
Mystic Meg also pioneered horoscope readings on the phone and when her four-minute astrology predictions for the coming week started in 1989 they broke all BT records.
Her agent remembers: “By about two o’clock on the Sunday afternoon, BT had taken 92,000 phone calls and by the Monday night it was up to 136,000.
“She broke all records at the time and the idea went round the world to places America, Australia and South Africa.
And in 1994, when the BBC launched their National Lottery show they turned to Meg to make predictions live on air, watched by 20million viewers.
Dave Shapland said: “She stayed there every Saturday night for three years and when Meg’s predictions about winners happened she became legendary.
“Even now some still think she is on the Lottery for some reason. That’s the kind of impact she made on it. It was quite incredible.”
On March 29, 1997, Meg predicted the lottery jackpot would be bought in Sunderland.
The winning ticket WAS bought in Sunderland – by a syndicate of Sun readers who shared £2.4million.