Bill Bailey has paid an emotional tribute to the late great Sean Lock two years after his passing.
This comes after last month's announcement by Channel 4 that a new TV comedy award will be named after the comedian.
The 8 Out Of 10 Cats star died at the age of 58 in August 2021 after a cancer diagnosis.
Channel 4 said the recipient of the 'Sean Lock Comedy Award' will receive £5,000 to support their live work, as well as a script commission from Channel 4’s comedy team, writer shadowing on Channel 4’s comedy entertainment shows and a £1,000 commission to write a script for Channel 4’s digital strand.
His former agent, Damon Pettitt from Off The Kerb, said: “I hope the recipient proves to be a worthy winner and shows the same integrity, work ethic and eye for the absurd, in both writing and performance, so evident in Sean’s fine body of work.”
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His friend and fellow comedian Bill Bailey, 58, who worked with Channel 4 to create the award, said he was 'delighted'.
Bailey added: “It’s a way to honour Sean’s memory and to inspire others to pursue their own unique comic brilliance.”
Today (16 August) marks the two-year anniversary of Lock's death and Bailey has shared a heartbreaking tribute on social media.
"Today it’s two years since we lost Sean," he wrote
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"It’s hard to believe sometimes that he’s not here. Miss you old friend."
Taking to X (Twitter), others have also paid tribute, with one person writing: "2 years on since we lost the unique, one in a million, absolute legend, Sean Lock. Forever missed, never forgotten."
Another penned: "Still one of those that saddens me the most. RIP Sean."
A third added: "I didn't realise it had already been two years! Lockdown completely warped all perspective of time."
"Probably the one celebrity I miss the most," a fourth said, while a fifth commented: "Wow two years already, crazy how quick time escapes you."
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The new Sean Lock Comedy Award went to stand-up comic Eric Rushton, who has been performing since 2014.
Rushton said: "Watching Sean Lock was a huge part of my childhood, I'm such a huge fan and I can't think of a better person to be associated with.
"I really want to thank Adam Jaremko from Glee clubs who put me forward and has always believed in me and also my mum for giving birth to me and raising me on comedy. I'm a bit overwhelmed with it all."
Anish Vij