Tragically, 41-year-old Gareth Richards passed away.
The Frank Skinner Show, a radio program hosted by Frank Skinner, featured Richards as a co-host.
Since 2004, the comic has been on Russell Howard’s Good News, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Radio 4.
He was about to start his tenth comedy tour when his family broke the devastating news that he had passed away.
Richards, who had been in a coma for two weeks, regrettably passed away at 6:30 p.m. on Good Friday (April 7).
On March 27, he was involved in a significant collision involving two automobiles and an HGV, and it was thought that he had sustained serious head and chest injuries.
Laura Richards, Richards’ wife, posted the terrible news in a Facebook statement.
It is with tremendous sadness that I must inform you that Gareth Richards passed away on Friday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. (Good Friday).
“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 added that in order to allow Richards to “be at peace,” the physicians had to stop all supportive medications due to the “extent of the damage being so severe.”
Laura thanked everyone for their help and thoughtfulness and noted that their boys are “bearing up well.”
Gareth Richards
The Frank Skinner Show’s most recent episode, “The Best Bits of Gareth Richards,” began with Skinner thanking the audience for their feedback.
Some of you will recall that I informed you at the end of last week’s show that our former colleague and close friend Gareth Richards had been involved in a terrible car accident and was in critical condition.
“Look, Gareth didn’t make it. There have been many lovely messages about him, and his family has been very gracious to us and kept us up to date on the specifics of his struggle.
Gaeth’s death and his absence deeply sadden us.
Richards was described as “kind, gentle, funny, and fascinating” by Skinner.
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
They had been co-hosting the program for two years, and before Richards joined them, the presenter of Room 101 radio stated his program was “rubbish.”
The last line of Skinner’s eulogy read, “Anyway, today’s show showcases Gareth’s best moments. And while it’s okay to weep, you also have to laugh; I believe he would have insisted on that.
The remainder of the broadcast featured some of Richards’ most memorable appearances.
“God, I will miss you, Gareth Richards,” tweeted Emily Dean, who co-hosted the program with Richards and Skinner when it initially aired. Richards is my hilarious, constantly kind, sweet, and gorgeous friend.
“Such gratitude for having met you.”
Other comedians have paid their tributes by posting on social media.
“Rip Gareth Richards,” Russell Howard tweeted. A wonderful man and a comic genius. I’m thinking of his family.
“Myself and the entire team at Manford Comedy Club are devastated to hear the news that Gareth Richards passed away today,” Jason Manford wrote in a blog post.
While Ed Gamble, host of the Great British Menu, remarked: “I felt completely out of my depth when I did the Comedy Zone at the Fringe in 2009.”
Luckily, Gareth Richards and I were splitting the bill.
“A towering talent and the sweetest, gentlest soul I have ever met in comedy.
I’m not sure how to calculate that we’ve lost him.
At this moment, our thoughts are with Richards’ family and friends.
