British comedian Sean Lock, best known for 8 Out of 10 Cats, has died from cancer at the age of 58, it’s been confirmed.
As per BBC, Lock’s agent Off The Kerb Productions confirmed the news 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.”
Born in Woking, Surrey, in 1963, Lock left school in the 80’s and worked his way up to becoming a mainstay in British comedy. One of his first roles was in the Rob Newman and David Baddiel 1993 series Newman and Baddiel in Pieces.
He also wrote and starred in the popular sitcom 15 Storeys High but it was as a prominent and consistent guest on comedy panel shows that he became best known for in the 00’s. The most famous of these was as a team captain on the Channel 4 series 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Alongside host Jimmy Carr and opposite team captains including Jon Richardson, Lock was a hilarious deadpan presence in the first 18 series. He departed in 2015 to be replaced by Rob Beckett. Lock was also a frequent guest on QI, Have I Got News for You, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.
Tributes have already started to appear for the star. Fellow comedian and close friend Lee Mack described his death as “heartbreaking.” “A true original both in comedy and life. I will miss him so much”, Mack said.”
Lock’s also enjoyed a stellar reputation as a stand-up comic: he was voted the 55th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups in 2007 and placed 19th in the updated 2010 list. He was previously named Best Live Comic at the British Comedy Awards in 2000.
Remember the Best of Sean Lock on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2008:
