Stars including Dara Ó Briain, Jason Byrne and Caroline Flack have paid tribute to Irish comedian and actor Sean Hughes who has died aged 51.
The death of the Never Mind the Buzzcocks star was announced on Monday, October 16 by his management company. Hughes was reportedly suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and was in hospital for treatment when he died.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
A number of celebrities have taken to social media to pay tribute to the star, who was born to Dublin and Cork parents in London, but spent most of his youth in Firhouse, Tallaght.
Fellow Irish comedians Dara Ó Briain and Jason Byrne led the tributes with Ó Briain calling Hughes "one of the Irish comedy trailblazers in the UK".
Ah, that is very sad news. That's no age. One of the Irish comedy trailblazers in the UK. https://t.co/N8XTny8CCM
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) October 16, 2017
Byrne called him "such a funny man" who loved a "good moan".
My auld mate Sean Huges has died, can't believe it, such a funny man, kind heart, and loved a good moan, a true Irishman #RIPSeanHughes
— jason byrne (@thejasonbyrne) October 16, 2017
Presenter Caroline Flack revealed that her brother "used to keep her awake" at night because he was laughing so loud at the comedian's show.
This is SO sad ... my brother used to keep my up when I was little because he was laughing so loudly at his show :((((( https://t.co/2ziY159OhV
— caroline flack (@carolineflack1) October 16, 2017
Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver also paid tribute to her former on-screen lover. In 2007, Hughes joined the cast of Corrie to play womanising salesman Pat, who had an affair with Cleaver's character Eileen Grimshaw, for a number months.
RIP Sean Hughes so so sad, will always remember the fun times we had.
— Sue Cleaver (@Sue_Cleaver) October 16, 201
Ross Noble said he was "very nice" to him when he was starting out, while Jason Manford called him a "brilliant comic and a lovely bloke".
Just awful news about Sean Hughes.he was very nice to me when I was starting out in comedy.a sad loss.
— Ross Noble (@realrossnoble) October 16, 2017
Very sad to hear about Sean Hughes. A brilliant comic and a lovely bloke. RIP.
— JasonManford (@JasonManford) October 16, 2017
Aisling Bea said: "I always enjoyed the mad tangents our conversations would take."
So sad. RIP Sean Hughes - a wonderfully silly, anarchic & hilarious comic. I always enjoyed the mad tangents our conversations would take.
— Aisling Bea (@WeeMissBea) October 16, 2017
Jack Dee declared his sorrow at Hughes' passing as did Jenny Eclair.
Very sad to hear about Sean Hughes. Started on the circuit with him back in the day. RIP.
— Jack Dee (@TheRealJackDee) October 16, 2017
Oh god, Sean Hughes died, how very sad
— Jenny Eclair (@jennyeclair) October 16, 2017
Never Mind the Buzzcocks also posted a video tribute on YouTube to "the great Sean Hughes".
We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
RTÉ's Director of Content Jim Jennings said Hughes "forged the way for a generation of Irish comedians and performers, on both sides of the Irish Sea".
He added: "Recently RTÉ was delighted to work with Sean once again, on RTÉ Radio 1's Comedy Showhouse, and radio series Don't Quote Me. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hughes Family and Sean's colleagues and friends."
