65-year-old publicist was ringmaster of Goody circus

Reality TV star Jade Goody became a national icon in the weeks before her death on Sunday, largely thanks to one man who pulls the strings in Britain's tabloid press - publicist Max Clifford.

Clifford's success in reviving Goody's career and publicizing every step of her battle with cervical cancer will be a professional high - even if by the end, he had his doubts about how much celebrity had become her way of life.

With his white hair and blue eyes framed by dark eyebrows, the 65-year-old Londoner has a good-natured demeanor and believes in the importance of a having a good relationship with his clients.