Gareth Richards Has Died Aged 41
Gareth Richards has tragically died aged 41.
Richards was the co-host of Frank Skinner’s radio programme The Frank Skinner Show.
The comedian had been performing stand-up since 2004 and had gigs on Russell Howard’s Good News, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4.
He was set to embark on his 10th comedy tour, however, his family has shared the heartbreaking news of his passing.
Watch Frank Skinner recall the moment his girlfriend went into labour below…
Richards sadly passed away at 6:30pm on Good Friday (April 7) after being in a coma for two weeks.
He was involved in a serious car accident between two cars and an HGV on March 27 – where he was believed to have suffered severe head and chest injuries.
Richards’ wife, Laura, shared the awful news in a statement on Facebook.
She penned: “It is with great sadness that I have to share that Gareth Richards passed away on Friday 7th April (Good Friday) at 6:30pm.
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“He was in a terrible car accident on Monday 27th March at 11:30 pm and sustained serious brain injuries. It was a miracle that he arrived at the hospital alive.
“Since then, the doctors and nurses have been incredible and have kept him in a stable and sedated condition.”
She explained that the ‘extent of the damage was so severe’ that the doctors had to remove all supportive medications to let Richards ‘be at peace’.
Laura added that their boys are ‘bearing up well’, before thanking everyone for their support and kindness.
In the most recent episode of The Frank Skinner Show, titled ‘The Best Bits of Gareth Richards’, Skinner opened the show by thanking the listeners for their thoughts.
The comedian said: “Last week, some of you will know I ended the show by telling you that our former colleague and dear friend Gareth Richards had been in a serious road accident and was fighting for his life.
“There’s been lots of beautiful messages about Gareth and his family have been very kind to us and kept us informed about the details of his struggle but look, Gareth didn’t make it.
“Gareth didn’t make it and we will miss him intensely.”
Skinner continued by calling Richards ‘kind, gentle, funny and fascinating’.
We are heartbroken about the loss of our dear friend, Gareth. We will miss him greatly. Tomorrow we will be releasing a podcast of some of his Best Bits on our show.
— The Frank Skinner Show (@FrankOnTheRadio) April 8, 2023
The pair had been co-hosting the show for two years and in a previous episode, the Room 101 host said his radio show was ‘rubbish’ before Richards joined.
Skinner ended his tribute by saying: “Anyway today’s show features Gareth’s best bits. And you are allowed to cry but you have to laugh as well, I think he would have insisted on that.”
The rest of the episode showed some of Richards’ best moments on the show.
Emily Dean, who co-hosted alongside Richards and Skinner when the show first aired, tweeted: “God I will miss you Gareth Richards – my hilarious, unfailingly kind, gentle, beautiful friend.
“So grateful to have known you.”
Other comedians have taken to social media to pay their respects.
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Russell Howard tweeted: “Rip Gareth Richards. A brilliant comedian and a wonderful man. My thoughts are with his family.”
Jason Manford penned: “Myself and the whole team at Manfords Comedy Club are devastated to hear the news that Gareth Richards passed away today.”
While Great British Menu host Ed Gamble shared: “When I did the Comedy Zone at the Fringe in 2009 I felt completely out of my depth.”
“Luckily for me, I was sharing a bill with Gareth Richards.
“The kindest, gentlest soul I have ever encountered in comedy and a towering talent.
“Don’t quite know how to compute that we’ve lost him.”
Our thoughts are with Richards’ family and friends at this time.
