Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne was left visibly emotional during an event as he told crowds a crew member of the BBC comedy had died
Mathew Horne struggled to hold back tears whilst revealing to audiences he’d just learned of a crew member’s death from Gavin and Stacey.
The 46 year old actor, is well known for his role as Gavin Shipman in the beloved BBC comedy alongside Joanna Page, James Corden, and Ruth Jones since its debut in 2007.
While recently being interviewed on stage for an In Conversation With session in Taunton, Somerset, when he suddenly became overcome with emotion.
The television star explained to the audience that he’d only just received the devastating news through the cast’s WhatsApp group, according to The Sun.
Mathew revealed: “Sorry. I got distracted. Earlier on… we had a driver on the finale called Rob and he was in his early 40s… and I found out via the WhatsApp group earlier that he has passed away and I got slightly distracted there.”
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He added: “It’s really, really sad. I got distracted by losing Rob. He was a really lovely guy and he’s left a four-year-old behind and that is really, really, really sad.”
Horne went on to explain to the audience how the entire cast and crew had formed strong bonds after collaborating for nearly two decades, reports the Express.
He revealed: “In 2019 before the Christmas special – part one of the finale if you like – aired, I lost my mother and Alison [Stedman, who played his onscreen mother Pam], really stepped up and she became my surrogate mother off screen as well.
“Whenever she texts me even now she signs it ‘Mum’. And that is cool. That is so beautiful. And she says ‘How are you, my little prince?’ It means the world to me.'”
(Image: BBC/GS TV Productions Ltd/Tom Jackson)
The Gavin and Stacey finale was broadcast on Christmas Day last year, attracting 19.1 million viewers for the final episode.
The series, which first aired in 2007 after being created by stars James Corden and Ruth Jones, ended with on/off lovers Smithy and Nessa finally confessing their love for each other and getting hitched, albeit with a few bumps along the way.
There has, however, been talk of potential spin-offs with other characters such as Dawn and Pete, played by Julia Davis and Adrian Scarborough respectively, keeping the spirit of Gavin and Stacey alive.
Gavin and Stacey is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.