Tributes to top comic Sean Lock, dead at 58
Showbiz pals pay tribute to TV comic as he dies at 58
FROM his brilliant turns on 8 Out of 10 Cats to his hilarious sitcom 15 Storeys High, Sean Lock has had fans in stitches for 30 years.
The popular comedian, lauded by his peers as one of the country’s funniest men, has died at 58 after a private battle with cancer.
The star had “quietly wrestled with illness”, according to friends. Sean’s agent said he died at home surrounded by his family. A statement said: “Sean was one of Britain’s finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit and the absurdist brilliance of his work marked him out as a unique voice.”
Fellow comic Lee Mack described Sean, a team captain on Channel 4 panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats, as a “true original in comedy and life”.
Jimmy Carr, who hosted the show, said: “Brutal news about Sean Lock today. I loved him. I’m watching clips of him right now – laughing & crying. I’ll miss him so much.”
Sean is survived by his wife Anoushka Nara Giltsoff, with whom he had two daughters and a son.
GONG
I loved him. I’m watching clips of him right now... laughing and crying. JIMMY CARR HOST OF 8 OUT OF 10 CATS ON SEAN
Born in Chertsey, Surrey, one of his first professional TV appearances was in 1993, alongside Rob Newman and David Baddiel on their signature TV show Newman and Baddiel in Pieces.
He script-edited 1998 BBC Two series Is It Bill Bailey? and had his own show on BBC Radio 4, 15 Minutes Of Misery, which became sitcom 15 Storeys High.
In 2000 Sean won the gong for best live stand-up at the British Comedy Awards, and in 2005 he became a team captain on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, a role he held for 18 series, and on the spin-off where they played Countdown.
It is not known what form of cancer Sean had. He previously made a full recovery from skin cancer which he blamed on over-exposure to the sun while working on building sites when he was younger. “You could hardly ask a big Irish foreman, ‘Please could you rub some Ambre Solaire on my back?’” he said previously.
Fellow comics and friends yesterday paid tribute. Bill Bailey said: “It’s a devastating loss. He was my dearest friend and we’ve known each other more than 30 years. We’ve known he was ill for some time, but even so it’s still a shock when the day comes.” Jason Manford, who starred opposite Sean on early series of Cats, wrote: “I’m absolutely gutted. So heartbroken for his wife and children. One of the funniest men I’ve ever worked with and I used to adore occasionally making him laugh on my first proper telly job.”
Jon Richardson, also a team captain on the show, said: “I idolised Sean as a comic long before I became a comedian myself and 10 years working alongside him didn’t diminish that in the least. An incredible comic brain and a truly unique voice.”
Alan Davies said: “Funny on stage, hilarious off.” David Baddiel said: “I’m devastated, one of the most naturally funny comics this country has ever produced.” Former QI host Stephen Fry said: “Such complete brilliance in every comic direction. What a loss.”