Grieving star leaves West End show permanently

Matt Lucas will not return to his West End role in Prick Up Your Ears following the suicide of his ex-partner.

The Little Britain star temporarily left the show after Kevin McGee was found dead in his Edinburgh flat last week – but now it has been announced that he will not return.

In the show he played KennethHalliwell, the lover of playwright Joe Orton. The production ends as Halliwell murders Orton and then prepares to take his own life.

Lucas was replaced by understudy Michael Chaadwick, but today it was announced that actor Con O'Neill, whose credits include Criminal Justice and Telstar, would take the role from October 22. The show is booking until December 6.

McGee – who married Lucas in December 2006, before their relationship ended last year – was found dead after updating his Facebook status to read: ‘Kevin McGee thinks death is much better than life.’

In a statement, producers of the play said: ‘Given the sad news that Matt Lucas has recently received, and the role he was playing, it is understandable that he could not return to play Halliwell at this time and our thoughts are with him.’

Published: 12 Oct 2009