Mr Kennedy announced his resignation as Lib Dem leader two days after admitting a drink problem, saying it had become clear he did not have enough support among MPs to continue.

Mr Kennedy had been tipped for the top from the moment he entered the Commons in 1983, aged 23. Twenty years later he was leader of the UK's third largest political party.

Through the 1980s and 1990s Mr Kennedy held a series of frontbench posts, working under the leadership of Paddy Ashdown.

He succeeded Mr Ashdown as Lib Dem leader in 1999 and under his stewardship the party steadily increased its representation in Westminster.

With his sights firmly set on making the party a real player at Westminster, Kennedy soon became the most successful Lib Dem leader of modern times.

His regular television appearances, here on Have I got News for You, brought him to the attention of many who had little interest in traditional Westminster politics.

In 2002 he became engaged to his partner of four years, Sarah Gurling.

In 2005, just prior to the general election, Sarah Kennedy gave birth to their first child, Donald James, named after Mr Kennedy's grandfather.

But negative rumours about his health and lifestyle proved hard to shake off, despite public vows to take more exercise, drink less alcohol and stop smoking.

Despite a successful general election in the early part of the year, by the end of 2005 his leadership of the Lib Dems was being questioned.