A "talented" writer who was "so full of life" died with his family by his bedside.
Mark Davies Markham, 62, died from cancer of unknown origin on Monday, January 16, after falling ill in October. Mark, originally from Bootle and living between Liverpool and Surrey, was best known for writing the script to Boy George's musical Taboo and BBC's Liverpool Nativity.
He leaves behind his son Alfie Davies Farrow, 25, partner Janet Loraine, 55, and mum Dorothy Markham, 84. Mark's ex-wife Sarah Farrow, 55, described Mark as a "vibrant" man who "had a huge appetite for life."
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Sarah told the ECHO: "Mark was a father first, a writer second, and he was a Liverpudlian third. He absolutely adored his son and his mum. If you met him you didn't forget him.
"He's a huge personality - he would fill the room. He'd talk at you, he'd want to know your life story.
"He was so vibrant, he was so full of life and so full of words. It's very difficult to believe he's not here anymore."
Sarah said Mark had a close relationship with his mum Dorothy who he got his spirit and sense of humour from.
In 1984, Mark's first play Are You Awake was staged by Liverpool Lunchtime Theatre. He carried on writing for eight years while working as a special needs teacher, before becoming a professional writer.
Mark went on to write episodes of EastEnders, Band of Gold, This Life and Biker Grove, as well as numerous BBC Radio 4 dramas.
After being diagnosed with leukaemia in 1997, Mark shared his experience of undergoing a life-saving bone marrow transplant in Seattle in Eric's The Musical, which was commissioned by Liverpool Everyman for Capital of Culture in 2008.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Mark's family said: "Mark’s own motto ‘hope not mope’ was exemplified to the very end. We mourn the loss of a truly remarkable, talented and memorable man."
In the days before he died at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice in Farnham, Surrey, Mark was paid a visit by Boy George. Sarah said: "They were good friends. George was shocked - he came down immediately to see him in the hospice.
"He got us all holding hands with him as we did a Buddhist chant. I said to Mark 'I think that's one of the most surreal experiences I've ever had.'"
Matt Lucas was one of hundreds of people who paid tribute to Mark on social media since hearing the tragic news of his death. He said: "Among other things, Mark wrote script for the musical Taboo.
"I loved watching him create a world and he did it with such warmth and humour and grace."
Paying tribute, Liverpool producer and artistic director Bill Elms said: "Mark was a wonderfully talented writer, one of Liverpool’s finest. It’s heartbreaking to lose such a wonderful friend and so quickly.
"Liverpool was in his blood, he loved the city, he loved to write about Liverpool and its people too. He was a trailblazer with shows like Taboo (The Boy George Musical which went to West End, Broadway and a national tour) and Eric's The Musical which played at the Everyman in 2008 for Capital of Culture year.
"He was a great comedy writer, having worked with him on 2Gorgeous4U which opened Liverpool Theatre Festival in 2021 and played the Royal Court last year.
"I will miss our chats, laughs and planning sessions. He had many projects lined-up for this year in the city too. A huge loss for the city."
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