Echium Pininana

Hi there
I have a Echium Pinanan which I think is biennial. it currently looks like its come to the end of its life and ive no idea what to do with it.
Is all lost? Do I dig it up or chop it off at the base? I'm new to gardening so any advise will be greatly received.
The plant has grown to about 3.5 metres and in its prime was just glorious with little blue flowers and a mass of green foliage and spikey leaves.
Here are some pictures of its current state which is quite a sorry sight:



I have taken some seeds and currently have 4 babies :-)

 

Yes it will be dead now so good you have the seedlings coming along.

They are not really a biennial a better word is monocarpic, meaning they grow for often two or three years before flowering and then dying.

 

Thanks Pete, so it is a case of digging it out now?

 

Yeah, dig it out.
You will find seedlings for years to come.
Once you flower one of these you never need to get another one.

 

great! I love the plant, its so different

I never know wether to call it a plant, tree or shrub
I refer to it affectionately as 'the trifid'