Margarita Pracatan, Singer From The Clive James Show, Has Died Aged 89

Cuban singer and entertainer Margarita Pracatan has died at the age of 89. 

The star was best known in the UK for appearing on Clive James’ TV show during the 1990s. 

Margarita’s death was confirmed by her daughter Maria Gorshin who told Sky News her mother died on Tuesday.

Margarita Pracatan pictured in 2005

Often described as a “novelty singer”, Margarita had performed since the age of three, and found fame in the UK when chat show host Clive James discovered a cable TV show she appeared on in 1994. 

He invited her to perform on his show The Clive James Show, where she memorably sang covers of hits including New York, New York, Mamma Mia and Hello at the end of each episode. 

Margarita was left shocked and saddened by the Australian broadcaster’s death in November last year. 

Margarita pictured with Clive James in 1995

Posting a tribute on Twitter, she said: “Saying goodbye is so shocking. Makes you quiet rewinding the memories. So many. Years and years of that intelligence and the talent and beautiful way of living, always to do excellence [sic].

“Thank you, #CliveJames from the bottom of my heart. You live forever with us.”

Margarita made her last TV appearance in 2019, when she starred in an episode of The Real Housewives Of New York City, where she performed a cover version of Luann de Lesseps’s Money Can’t Buy You Class.