Bonnie Greer, the writer, critic and broadcaster known for her composed, incisive appearances on programmes including Late Review, Newsnight Review and Question Time, has died aged 77. Her work mattered because it bridged American and British culture, while her empathetic style helped make often-combative television discussions more inclusive.

Greer worked across drama, fiction, biography, memoir and documentary, drawing on experiences in Chicago theatre and New York’s artistic circles. Her play Marilyn and Ella explored racial and cultural identity through Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald, while her memoir A Parallel Life reflected her divided American and British identities; she became a British citizen in 1997 and was appointed OBE in 2010.