Inside the tragic story behind Matt Lucas' husband Kevin's death 15 years on
Matt Lucas dated Kevin McGee for four years before tying the knot in a civil ceremony in 2006, with guests including Sir Elton John and Paul O'Grady.
Matt Lucas praises 'fantastic' Alison Hammond on GBBO
We're used to seeing Matt Lucas with a huge smile on his face and making us laugh when we switch on our television screens, but behind the scenes, the actor was dealing with grief and heartbreak after losing his husband Kevin McGee in 2009.
Matt, 49, dated TV producer Kevin for four years before tying the knot in a civil ceremony in 2006, with guests including Sir Elton John, Paul O'Grady and Courtney Love.
However, the pair ended up getting divorced in 2008, just 18 months after their wedding. Kevin tragically took his own life in October 2009, with police discovering him in a flat in Edinburgh.
The television producer had worked for production company Carbon Media and worked on shows such as The Real Little Britain and The Morning After Show.
The Great British Bake Off host was left devastated by Kevin's death and didn't publically comment on his loss until a decade later.
In 2019, Matt took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt tribute to Kevin, with a picture of him smiling as he let out his inner thoughts.
He told his 363,000 followers: "This is Kevin John McGee, who died 10 years ago today.
"I loved him more than anyone I've ever met, and still do. He was so funny and silly and clever and kind and handsome and his smile made my heart soar.
"We were together for nearly six years and he made me the happiest man on the planet. In the end, he lost his battle with addiction and depression.
Don't miss...
BBC Countryfile's Matt Baker shares exciting family update [LATEST]
BBC Saturday Kitchen fans up in arms after calling for host to 'pipe down' [NEWS]
BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty tells co-star to 'get a new job' in cheeky swipe [INSIGHT]
"I guess some people don't have the armour for this world. I think of him probably a hundred times a day, every day. In truth, I think of little else.
"I would give anything to see him again and maybe one day I will, but for now I will be grateful for the time we had together and the love we shared. It was like no other," the BBC star heartbreakingly concluded.
Matt also previously opened up about his grief to Sunday Times Magazine and said he tried to distract himself. He told the publication: "I think people respond in all different ways to grief. I thought I was very conscientious going to a bereavement counsellor and not turning to drink, which I hardly ever do - I probably have six units a year.
"I’m not going to start smoking again, I’m not going to do drugs. But I ended up eating lots and having lots of sex. That was how I responded. As much as anything I was trying to distract myself."