During the early days of the Saturday morning program on Absolute Radio, Skinner and his friend worked together. “We will miss him terribly,” Skinner reflected.
Frank Skinner honoured comedian Gareth Richards by introducing a podcast of their radio programme’s finest moments.
The death of Richards was disclosed yesterday, nearly two weeks after he sustained brain injuries in a highway collision.
Skinner referred to Richards as a “former colleague and devoted friend” and said, “There have been many heartfelt messages about Gareth, and his family has been very kind to us and kept us updated on the details of his struggle, but sadly, Gareth did not survive.
“Gareth did not survive, and we will mourn him tremendously.
“He was a very kind, compassionate, humorous, and intriguing man, and I can’t believe he’s gone…
“Today’s show will feature Gareth’s funniest moments, but he would have insisted that you laugh and cry.”
During the early days of Absolute Radio’s Saturday morning program, Skinner and Richards worked together.
On Friday, the comedian passed away, his wife Laura announced in a social media post.
“On Monday, March 27 at 11:30 p.m., he was involved in a terrible car accident and sustained severe brain injuries,” she wrote.
“His survival upon arrival at the hospital was a marvel.
“Since then, the physicians and nurses have been phenomenal, maintaining his condition as stable and sedated.
However, the most recent scan revealed that the extent of the injury was so severe that all life-sustaining medications must be discontinued and he must be allowed to rest in peace.
We will mourn him very much.
In October of 2004, the comedian performed for the first time aboard the Wibbly Wobbly Boat, a venue hosted by alternative comedy veteran Malcolm Hardy.
As a result of his success, he became a finalist in the 2007 Hackney Empire New Act of the Year competition and a runner-up in the 2007 Amused Moose Laugh-Off.
In 2010, the comedian performed his first solo stand-up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival titled “Stand Up Between Songs.”
Richards was also nominated for the Best Newcomer award for the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award.
Two years later, he joined Skinner’s award-winning radio program.
Following the announcement of his death, heartbroken fans, friends, and family began to flow in with tributes.
“We are heartbroken over the passing of our beloved friend, Gareth,” the Frank Skinner Show tweeted Saturday. We will greatly mourn him.”
Emily Dean, a co-host on Skinner’s podcast, remarked, “God, I will mourn my hilarious, unfailingly kind, gentle, and beautiful friend Gareth Richards. So appreciative to have known you”
“I’m heartbroken”
“When I performed my first hour at the Edinburgh Festival, I shared a venue with Gareth Richards,” wrote comedian Joe Lycett.
He was typically the first person I saw when I left the stage after his performance. Even though he was presumably attempting to concentrate on his upcoming performance, he was always generous and comforting.
The post continued: “We laughed together intermittently over the past decade and reconnected more actively over the past few years, and I felt he was reaching a happier and more authentic place with who he was.
“He’d been very courageous. I am devastated by his passing, and my heart goes out to his family.
“Among the contents of his final WhatsApp message to me are the words ‘I adore you. I should have said it back then: “I love you, too, G. X.”
