Sean Lock’s brilliant TV and comedy career has been remembered, following his death aged 58.
The star’s agent confirmed that Lock died from cancer, surrounded by his family.
A statement read: ‘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.’
Lock began his career in comedy in the late 1980s, after previously working on building sites after leaving school, and was inspired by Frank Skinner and Eddie Izzard.
One of his first professional TV appearances was in 1993, starring alongside Rob Newman and David Baddiel on their signature TV show Newman And Baddiel In Pieces.
His career brought him into radio work, script-editing the 1998 BBC Two series Is It Bill Bailey?, before he landed his own BBC Radio 4 show called 15 Minutes Of Misery, which involved Lock eavesdropping on his neighbours in his south London tower block using a bugging device fitted by his plumber.
The segment was a success and was later expanded into the TV series 15 Storeys High, where his pessimistic character was renamed Vince and given a flatmate called Errol, played by Benedict Wong, in the tower block.
The show ran for two series between 2002 and 2004, and was nominated for a Bafta in the best new director category.
After 15 Storeys High ended, Lock became a regular team captain on the Channel 4 panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats, a role he held for 18 series.
Between 2006 and 2007 he hosted Channel 4 series, TV Heaven, Telly Hell, in which he invited celebrities, including Alan Davies, Johnny Vaughan, David Mitchell, Bill Bailey, Johnny Vegas and Nick Hancock, to share their own selection of TV’s triumphs and tragedies.
Speaking at the time, Lock told the PA news agency, he said: ‘I think one of my all-time favourite shows is Catchphrase with Roy Walker. I loved it. I used to like Roy’s restraint, because, for a comedian, the opportunity to take the mick out of some of the ridiculous answers could have been too hard to resist.’
As well as 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Lock appeared on panel shows including Have I Got News for You, QI, The Last Leg, They Think It’s All Over and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.
Most recently, he starred in an episode of the BBC comedy Mandy, going on a date with Diane Morgan’s character.
Lock also had a successful career in stand-up, having won the award for best live stand-up at the British Comedy Awards in 2000 and having been nominated for the Perrier Comedy Award.
He released four live stand-up DVDs, including 2017’s Keep It Light.
Tributes have poured in for Lock following the news, with fellow comic and close friend Lee Mack saying: ‘I’ve known this day was coming for some time, but it’s no less heartbreaking. A true original both in comedy and life. I will miss him so much.’
Lock is survived by his wife Anoushka Nara Giltsoff and their three children.
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