Barry Fantoni, the versatile artist, writer, and long-standing contributor to Private Eye magazine, has died aged 85. The publication confirmed that Fantoni passed away on Tuesday at his home in Turin, Italy, following a heart attack, marking the end of a remarkable career spanning more than five decades.
Fantoni was renowned as a key creative force behind the success of Private Eye, having joined the editorial team in the early 1960s. Over the years, he became best known for contributing to the magazine’s comic voice and for creating some of its most memorable recurring characters, such as the fictional obituary poet E.J. Thribb. His wit and satire left a lasting mark on British journalism and cartooning.
Ian Hislop, the current editor of Private Eye, paid tribute to his former colleague and friend. “Barry was a brilliant multi-talented writer, artist, and musician,” said Hislop. “He was an integral part of Private Eye’s comic writing team from the early days. I hugely enjoyed collaborating with him when I joined the magazine. He created formats, characters, and jokes that are still running and for a long time was the voice of E.J. Thribb. So farewell then, Barry.”
Fantoni’s artistic talents were not limited to cartoons. Born on 28 February 1940, he began his creative journey at the young age of 14, attending the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts after winning the Wedgwood Scholarship for the Arts. After his expulsion from Camberwell, he moved to the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art and quickly became associated with London’s vibrant 1960s pop art scene.
His range of work extended far beyond Private Eye. Fantoni contributed as a diary cartoonist to The Times, created caricatures for the Radio Times between the 1960s and 1970s, and lampooned a wide range of famous personalities from entertainer Sir Bruce Forsyth to former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and comedian Sir Ken Dodd. His distinctive style brought a biting yet affectionate humour to his subjects, endearing him to both readers and peers.
In addition to his illustrative work, Fantoni was active in broadcasting and writing. During the 1960s, he scripted for the BBC’s iconic satirical programme That Was the Week That Was and later presented A Whole Scene Going, a fashion and music show that captured the tastes and spirit of young Britain during the swinging sixties. He also wrote detective novels and contributed as an art critic for The Times as well as reviewed records for Punch magazine in the 1970s.
After nearly half a century with Private Eye, Fantoni announced his retirement in 2010. Reflecting on his departure in an interview with The Independent, he remarked, “It was just time to leave. I’d done it. The establishment isn’t even worth puncturing any more.” Yet, his influence remained evident in the magazine’s ongoing tone and humour.
Among Fantoni’s later achievements was the organisation of his extensive cartoon archive. In 2011, he arranged for the sale of 3,500 original Times cartoons at Bonhams auction house, with the collection attracting considerable interest from admirers and collectors alike.
Fantoni led an inspiring and varied professional life, shifting seamlessly between disciplines but always bringing his sharp perspective and playful humour to the fore. He is survived by his partner, Katie, with whom he shared his final years in Italy.
The world of British satire and art mourns the passing of a true original, whose legacy will continue to influence cartoonists and satirists for many years to come.