Tribute to a 'wild child'

Paula was distraught after Michael Hutchence's death

Friends and colleagues of Paula Yates have paid tribute to her charisma and humour.

Musician Jools Holland, Paula's co-host on The Tube, expressed his shock at news of her death.

He said: "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my very dear friend.

"All my thoughts go to the family at this extremely difficult time. I would ask that everyone respects their privacy."

Tim Gardam, director of programmes at Channel 4, where Paula began her broadcasting career, said everyone at the station was deeply shocked.

"Paula Yates was a central figure of two of Channel 4's most emblematic and successful series - The Tube and The Big Breakfast.

She was a vibrant personality - she epitomised the rock and roll lifestyle

Miss Yates' former solicitor, Mark Stephens

"She will be remembered for her charismatic personality at the heart of these programmes. Everyone at the channel is deeply shocked at the news of her untimely death," he said.

Andrea Wonfor, who was head of programming at Tyne Tees TV, which produced The Tube, said the world would be a duller place without Paula.

"It is with profound personal and professional regret that we heard of the death of Paula Yates today.

"She was a true original and a unique rock and roll talent.

"Beautiful, hugely intelligent and feisty, with a wicked sense of humour, she played a crucial part, co-presenting with Jools Holland, in creating 'in your face' television, which The Tube pioneered in the 1980s.

With fellow Big Breakfast presenter Gaby Roslin

"While her work as a journalist was always provocative, the world will be a duller place without her."

'Adored her children'

Eve Pollard, who edited Aura magazine which Miss Yates worked on as an agony aunt, told BBC News 24: "Paula was always so full of life. She had had a tragic time but was coming out of it.

"She adored her children and they will find it hardest of all to recover from this."

Mark Stephens, the solicitor who dealt with Miss Yates' acrimonious divorce from Sir Bob Geldof, said: "She was a vibrant personality, she lived life to the full. She epitomised the rock and roll lifestyle, that's why the public loved her.

"Her children were the real passion of her life. She would quite often be at home with them rather than going to the opening of an envelope, as some people did."