Entertainment
Sean Lock was diagnosed with ‘advanced’ lung cancer but continued to work, says friend Bill Bailey
Sean Lock had been fighting lung cancer (Picture: Edible London)
Sean Lock had been battling lung cancer at the time of his death.
The comedian died earlier this week aged 58, with his agent confirming he had died from cancer.
His close friend Bill Bailey confirmed that Lock had been diagnosed with ‘advanced’ lung cancer ‘a few years ago’, but he continued to work and make the most of his final years.
In an interview with ITV News, Bill, 56, said: ‘He had been diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago and it was at the time quite a blow, particularly when it was quite advanced.
‘We’ve tried to make the most of the last few years. We spent a lot of time together and went on trips together. And he’s continued to work.
‘He’s amazingly courageous and tough individual who was mentally strong throughout the whole time. I’m just grateful for the time we have had together.’
Speaking about the impact he had on other comedians, the Strictly Come Dancing winner said: ‘A lot of comics are talking about the fact that he inspired them to become comedians. He was the one that gave them the strength and courage to carry on as comedians – it’s a tough business.
‘He was fearless and determined and that’s what gave them strength.’
Bill noted Lock was one of his dearest friends, having first met 30 years ago, and the pair went on family holidays together.
In a separate interview with Naga Munchetty on BBC Radio 4 Live, Bill said: ‘His family are sort of like our family now, really.’
Lock had kept his illness private, even when he moved to a hospice towards the end of his life.
However, he had been open about being diagnosed with skin cancer in his late 20s, after a one-night stand spotted a malignant melanoma on his back.
The comic told the Daily Mail: ‘She said there was something weird on my back. I asked her what it looked like and she said it was a patch of skin which was black, misshapen, with a crusty texture and about the size of a 10p piece.
The comedy world is mourning its loss (Picture: Steve Meddle/REX/Shutterstock)
‘I had no idea how long it had been there. It didn’t hurt or itch, so there was nothing that would have drawn my attention to it. And being in the small of my back, it was not something you could easily see while looking in a mirror.’
Lock booked an appointment the next day with a dermatologist, who administered a local anaesthetic and cut away the patch.
Two weeks later, doctors told Lock that the results of the biopsy had shown that the patch was a malignant melanoma, and had he not been treated promptly, the cancer would have almost certainly spread into his lymphatic system in three to four months.
More: Cancer
Following the scare, Lock took better care of himself with sun protection and urged fans to check themselves for any moles or unusual patches of skin. He blamed not using sunscreen while working outdoors on building sites for the disease.
Friends and colleagues from the TV and comedy worlds, including Jimmy Carr, Jon Richardson and Lee Mack, have been paying tribute to Lock, who was best known for his work on 8 Out of 10 Cats and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
On Thursday night, Channel 4 aired his comedy special Keep It Light and a classic episode of Cats Does Countdown in his memory.
Lock is survived by his wife Anoushka Nara Giltsoff, with whom he had two daughters and one son.
