Annabel Giles: Model, TV Presenter, and Therapist Dies at 64

Few careers take you from the cover of a Max Factor ad to a therapy chair, but Annabel Giles made that leap look natural. The Welsh-born model, TV presenter, and later psychotherapist died on 20 November 2023 after a battle with glioblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumour that cut short a life of reinvention and quiet courage.

Born: 20 May 1959 ·
Died: 20 November 2023 (aged 64) ·
Cause of death: Glioblastoma ·
Profession: Model, TV presenter, actress, counsellor ·
Known for: Max Factor face, Razzmatazz, I’m a Celebrity ·
Spouse: Midge Ure (m. 1985–1992)

Seven key facts about Annabel Giles, drawn from obituaries and family statements, paint a portrait of a multi-faceted life.

What happened to Annabel Giles?

Annabel Giles’ death at age 64

• Annabel Giles died on 20 November 2023 at Martlets Hospice in Hove, England, aged 64. Her children announced the news on social media (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
• The family statement described her final months: she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in July 2023 and “faced the last four months with remarkable resilience and strength” (Evening Standard, London newspaper).

Cause of death: glioblastoma

• The tumour was confirmed as stage 4 glioblastoma, a fast-growing and highly aggressive malignant brain tumour (Sky News, UK news outlet).
• She underwent brain surgery and “countless radiotherapies” during those months (LADbible, UK digital publisher).

“faced the last four months with remarkable resilience and strength”

— Annabel Giles’ family, via Evening Standard, London newspaper

Tributes and reactions

• Friends and co-stars from I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! paid tribute. One said: “I can’t believe she’s gone… I’m heartbroken” (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
• The Guardian obituary noted she “earned up to £16,000 a day and became the face of Max Factor” (The Guardian, UK newspaper).

The implication: Giles’ death resonated beyond celebrity news — it reminded many that brain tumours can strike without warning, regardless of age or background.

What was Annabel Giles famous for?

Modelling career with Max Factor

• In the 1980s, she was one of Britain’s top models, earning up to £16,000 per day as the face of Max Factor (The Telegraph, UK newspaper).

Television presenting and acting

• She presented the children’s music show Razzmatazz on ITV in the late 1980s (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
• She acted in films including Riders (1993) and Firelight (1997) (IMDb, film database).
• In 2013, she appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
• She also wrote novels, including Birthday Girls (The Telegraph, UK newspaper).

Later work as a counsellor and psychotherapist

• In the 2010s, Giles retrained as a counsellor and psychotherapist and ran a private practice (The Telegraph, UK newspaper).
• Her children said she was “passionate about raising awareness of glioblastoma” in her final weeks (Evening Standard, London newspaper).

The pattern: From fashion to film to therapy — Giles’ career was a series of intentional pivots, each one pulling her closer to a life of purpose rather than just publicity.

Who is the father of Annabel Giles?

Relationship with Midge Ure

• Scottish musician Midge Ure (of Ultravox and Band Aid fame) is the father of Giles’ only child (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).
• They married in 1985 and divorced in 1992 (The Times, UK newspaper).

Daughter Molly McQueen

• Their daughter, Molly McQueen, is an actress and writer. Giles is survived by Molly and her partner, Steve (Sky News, UK news outlet).

Why this matters: Giles kept a relatively private family life despite her public career, and her daughter has spoken warmly about her mother’s strength.

Who was Midge Ures’ first wife?

Annabel Giles as Midge Ure’s first wife

• Annabel Giles was Midge Ure’s first wife. They were married from 1985 to 1992 and had one daughter (The Times, UK newspaper).

Marriage and divorce

• Ure and Giles separated amicably; Ure later said they remained on good terms for the sake of their daughter (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).

The catch: While the marriage lasted only seven years, their shared parenting and mutual respect endured — a rare outcome in showbiz divorces.

Who is Midge Ure married to now?

Midge Ure’s current wife

• Midge Ure married Sheridan Ure (née Johnson) in 1999. They remain together (BBC News, UK public broadcaster).

The trade-off: Ure’s second marriage has been low-profile, in contrast to his high-profile relationship with Giles during the 1980s.

Timeline: Annabel Giles

• 20 May 1959 — Born in Griffithstown, Gwent, Wales (IMDb, film database)
• 1980s — Successful modelling career; becomes face of Max Factor (The Telegraph, UK newspaper)
• 1985 — Marries musician Midge Ure (The Times, UK newspaper)
• 1992 — Divorces Midge Ure (The Times, UK newspaper)
• 1993 — Appears in film Riders (IMDb, film database)
• 2002 — Participates in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (BBC News, UK public broadcaster)
• 2010s — Retrains as counsellor and psychotherapist (The Telegraph, UK newspaper)
• July 2023 — Diagnosed with glioblastoma (Sky News, UK news outlet)
• 20 November 2023 — Dies at age 64 (BBC News, UK public broadcaster)

The timeline shows the breadth of Giles’ career and the brevity of her final battle.

What we know and what remains unclear

The clarity around her diagnosis remains partial, but the confirmed facts provide a solid foundation.

In their words: Tributes and memories

“Annabel Giles, who has died of glioblastoma aged 64, was first a model who earned up to £16,000 a day and became the face of Max Factor.”

— The Guardian (The Guardian, UK newspaper)

“Annabel Giles has died after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in July. She starred in children’s show Razzmatazz, the 1993 film Riders.”

— BBC News (BBC News, UK public broadcaster)

“I can’t believe she’s gone… I’m heartbroken.”

— Tribute from an I’m a Celebrity co-star (BBC News, UK public broadcaster)

The implication: The tributes highlight not just her fame but the genuine affection she inspired — a legacy that goes beyond any single job title.

What her life means now

Annabel Giles’ journey from model to therapist challenges the assumption that public figures cannot change course. For the entertainment industry, her quiet second act as a counsellor shows that reinvention is possible — and often more rewarding than the spotlight. For anyone facing a glioblastoma diagnosis, her family’s advocacy creates a small but significant shift: the disease is less invisible than it was before she spoke up. The consequence for the UK’s brain tumour research community is clear: every high-profile case like Giles’ keeps the pressure on for better treatments and earlier detection.

Related reading

• Terry Jones: Monty Python Comedian, Historian – Death & Legacy — another UK entertainer whose later-life health struggles were publicly shared.
• Pauline Quirke: Dementia Diagnosis and Quiet Retirement — a TV star facing a serious diagnosis, similar to Giles’ open approach.

These related articles highlight similar stories of public figures facing serious health challenges.

A detailed biography of Annabel Giles offers a deeper look into her transition from model and TV presenter to psychotherapist.

Frequently asked questions

These FAQs address common queries about Annabel Giles’ life and death.