Legendary TV presenter Sir David Frost who died last night had strong links with Suffolk.

Sir David died on the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, where he was due to give a speech, after suffering a heart attack at the age of 74, his family said in a statement today.

Known for incisive interviews with the leading figures of his time, and perhaps most famously disgraced US president Richard Nixon, Sir David, who worked for Anglia TV in the early 1960s, spent more than 50 years as a television star.

Sir David’s father was a minister in north Suffolk and he married the late actress Lynne Frederick at Theberton Church near Leiston in 1981.

David Cameron was quick to send his condolences and tweeted: “My heart goes out to David Frost’s family. He could be - and certainly was with me - both a friend and a fearsome interviewer.

In a statement to BBC News, Sir David’s family said: “His family are devastated and ask for privacy at this difficult time.

“A family funeral will be held in the near future and details of a memorial service will be announced in due course.”

TV personality Esther Rantzen said: “I think fellow interviewers have always been awestruck by David Frost’s capacity to illicit memorable, sometimes historically significant quotes from all the movers and shakers or our time - presidents, prime ministers, A*list celebrities - but for all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him socially, it is his kindness, generosity, loyalty and humour that we will miss so much.

“His summer party was always the best party of the year. His fund of anecdotes and his constant wit was a joy. In fact, it was always his greeting: ‘a joy to meet you’ and it was always a joy to meet him.”

Mr Cameron added: “My heart goes out to Carina and the family.

“Sir David was an extraordinary man - with charm, wit, talent, intelligence and warmth in equal measure. He made a huge impact on television and politics.

“The Nixon interviews were among the great broadcast moments - but there were many other brilliant interviews.

“He could be - and certainly was with me - both a friend and a fearsome interviewer.”

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls tweeted: “Very sorry to hear of the sudden death of Sir David Frost - he was such a friendly man, but also a brilliantly beguiling interviewer”.