Celebrities
Greg Evans
Aug 18, 2021
The comedian Sean Lock, best known for his role on the panel show 8 out of 10 Cats, has died aged 58 following a battle with cancer.
Lock, best known for his deadpan style, was a captain on the popular Channel 4 show as well as its hybrid show 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, opposite Jon Richardson.
He also appeared on other panel shows such as QI, The Last Leg, Have I Got News for You, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, the BBC sitcom 15 Storeys High, as well as numerous tours as a stand-up comedian.
Lock’s agent from Off The Kerb Productions said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sean Lock. He died at home from cancer, surrounded by his family.
“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 in British comedy.
“Sean was also a cherished husband and father to three children. Sean will be sorely missed by all that knew him. We kindly request that the privacy of his family and children is respected at this difficult time.”
Tributes to Lock from friends, colleagues and fans soon flooded Twitter as many remembered just how funny and witty the man was.
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.— Jimmy Carr (@Jimmy Carr) 1629285286
I idolised Sean as a comic long before I became a comedian myself and ten years working alongside him didn’t dimini… https://t.co/UuKWpjDVKB— Jon Richardson (@Jon Richardson) 1629281371
It’s heartbreaking to lose my dearest friend Sean Lock , he was a true original, a wonderful comic. All my thoughts are with his family.— Bill Bailey (@Bill Bailey) 1629282313
Such sad news. RIP the great Sean Lock. One of the funniest, most influential comedians of a generation. A lovely man. 💔— Ricky Gervais (@Ricky Gervais) 1629282524
The highest compliment that you can pay Sean Lock is that he made it all look so effortless, that the wit he had wa… https://t.co/SmY8nBJ4Jo— Jonny Sharples (@Jonny Sharples) 1629283738
Sean Lock ♥️ https://t.co/yU8ixCLvHN— Kath 💙🙀😷❄️🇪🇺✊🏾 (@Kath 💙🙀😷❄️🇪🇺✊🏾) 1629283787
With the passing of Sean Lock we have lost the best of the best.He made me laugh like few others do.A massive talen… https://t.co/I2dD1cMOB5— Ross Noble (@Ross Noble) 1629283213
Over 15 years producing '8 Out Of 10 Cats' Sean Lock made me laugh so much and so often. A unique and brilliant com… https://t.co/qWSDwSZYwS— Richard Osman (@Richard Osman) 1629281728
Just got a call from @BBCSussex to ask me to come on to talk about the death of Sean Lock. Which was the first I'd… https://t.co/RWf1kR7PGq— Stephen Grant (@Stephen Grant) 1629282181
Awful news. Such a funny man. #RIPSean https://t.co/8GM87iowOD— Gary Lineker 💙 (@Gary Lineker 💙) 1629282160
Gutted to see the news about Sean Lock passing. Genius Comedian. One of the funniest.— Seán McGowan (@Seán McGowan) 1629282143
Ahhh gutted to see Sean Lock has passed away…really funny man and also loved the Chels 💙 RIP— Jody Morris (@Jody Morris) 1629282141
I can't think of a comedian more universally revered and loved by the comedy community at all levels. He was an inc… https://t.co/XKw3IDN5j8— Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy (@Ken Cheng twitch.tv/kenchengcomedy) 1629284002
real shame to hear about Sean Lock, one of the few comedian's to poke his head above the TV panel show parapet and… https://t.co/mHgrrUfMRe— Sam Diss (@Sam Diss) 1629281813
Very few comedians make it look effortless and Sean Lock was one of them. He had the best dry humour and insanely q… https://t.co/HQQbNm6r7A— Parker (@Parker) 1629281447
Sean Lock off stage, sitting telling you a story that will make you laugh so hard it hurts your kidneys, is the bes… https://t.co/ELPkjUNvfF— Janey Godley (@Janey Godley) 1629283179
My favourite Sean Lock joke: “How do you stop a dog from humping your leg? Pick him up and suck him off instead.”… https://t.co/QgXWQhYBf7— Tom Peck (@Tom Peck) 1629281644
Sean Lock was such a gem - he played the ‘mardy’ comedian role so well whilst being phenomenally likeable and so so… https://t.co/yTmr01HUll— jack rem x (@jack rem x) 1629281674
Sean Lock was the first comedian I saw live, Leeds festival in 2002 and became my favourite comedian. He made me wa… https://t.co/aFO0prevVx— Lloyd Griffith (@Lloyd Griffith) 1629284170
So sad to hear about Sean Lock. He was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. 15 Stories High was was absolute g… https://t.co/pNgiwtkAXD— Diane Morgan (@Diane Morgan) 1629283884
Oh man. Sean Lock was such a staple of my teenage comedy viewing. He was so quick witted! What a loss for the world. :(— hannah strong (@hannah strong) 1629281671
Lee Mack's tribute to Sean Lock has broken me. "I’ve known this day was coming for some time, but it’s no less hear… https://t.co/DkMgT0P5T7— Emma Kelly (@Emma Kelly) 1629281164
Many have recalled their favourite jokes from Lock, with Piers Morgan’s being a particular beaut.
'If I could have my ashes spread anywhere I wanted, I'd have them spread in Piers Morgan's eyes.' RIP Sean Lock. https://t.co/tkAswfn6OQ— Piers Morgan (@Piers Morgan) 1629284079
https://t.co/5U7XA5zaDw— Darren Richman (@Darren Richman) 1629282967
RIP Sean Lock. Truly one of the funniest comedians out there https://t.co/osaBaTJFyk— Sam Cooper (@Sam Cooper) 1629283502
Saw Sean Lock live several times a very funny man. RIP https://t.co/RjubyTmL1g— Marie-Ann Hates Tories and Brexit (@Marie-Ann Hates Tories and Brexit) 1629283928
One of my favourite routines is a bit I’ve never even seen. But this is how Stewart Lee described it in his book an… https://t.co/bDqnsFDC1t— Mitchell Jones (@Mitchell Jones) 1629283437
“What would you like your obituary to say?” “Ideally, nooooooo, whyyyyyy.” Such a funny bloke, great dry sense of… https://t.co/a8yjisVuk2— cb (@cb) 1629281681
sean lock has got to be one of the funniest comedians out there, he will be truly missed https://t.co/QorBCcGHMs— amy 🧚🏼 (@amy 🧚🏼) 1629284201
And wordsmith Susie Dent, who often has a word for every occasion, was at a loss for word on this occasion – something which she felt Lock would have liked.
I wish I had the words to describe the exceptional man that was Sean Lock. But today I don’t, and I think he might have liked it that way.— Susie Dent 💙 (@Susie Dent 💙) 1629283252
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