Comedy world in shock as stand-up Sean Hughes dies suddenly aged 51

SOME of the biggest names in comedy have paid tribute to Sean Hughes following his death yesterday.

Hughes had tweeted that he had been in hospital over the last few days. It is believed he was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.

Born in London to Irish parents, Hughes was raised in Dublin. The comedian, author and actor, who was 51, started performing in the late 1980s at the Comedy Store in London as the alternative scene started to overtake traditional stand-up.

In 1990 Hughes became the youngest winner of the prestiglucky ious Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Festival when he was just 24.

He went on to star in his own Channel 4 series Sean’s Show, and landed a bit part in The Commitments before going on to be a team captain on the hugely successful BBC quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

He later took the lead role in the film version of legendary comic Spike Milligan’s Puckoon and appeared briefly in Coronation Street as the smooth-talking Pat Stanaway.

Comedic contemporaries took to social media yesterday to express their sorrow at Hughes’ passing.

Patrick Kielty wrote: “Used to think Sean Hughes was a God

Comedian Sean Hughes, and (right) in an episode of Coronation Street

when I brought him on at The Empire. He was. Inspired all us Irish comics to chase bigger things,” while Jack Dee added: “Very sad to hear about Sean

Hughes. Started on the circuit with him back in the day.”

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh said on Twitter: “Sad to hear about Sean Hughes. Was enough to enjoy his company on a few occasions over the years. A witty, gracious, kind and gentle soul.”

BBC presenter Jake Humphrey rehashed one of Hughes’ jokes as a tribute to him: “I thought when I was 41, I would be married with kids. Well, to be honest, I thought I’d be married with weekend access.”

Hughes wrote in The Irish Times in 2014 of his relationship with alcohol and that he once stopped drinking for a while because he was “drinking too much”, before starting again.

He also wrote: “I knew I was drinking too much when I had to be put out at a party.

“I don’t mean I was asked to leave. My jacket was on fire.”