Frank Skinner leads prayers for a 'fantastic bloke'

Comedian Gareth Richards has been very seriously injured in a car crash.

The stand-up remains in a coma in intensive care, his agents Mirth Control have said.

His manager Lynne Johnstone said: 'We are praying that he makes a miraculous recovery and are in touch with his family who are taking one day at a time, our thoughts go out to them and to all and his friends.

'We are all thinking of him and willing him to pull through.'

Frank Skinner told listeners to his radio show that his  former co-host is fighting for his life.

The 66-year-old broke down in tears as he revealed that Richards was in a 'very big road accident' on Monday.

Richards is believed to have been involved in a serious collision on the M25 near Heathrow Airport between a lorry and two cars, it has been reported. The accident, just before midnight on Monday night, resulted in the motorway being closed for more than 10 hours.

At the end of his Absolute Radio show, Skinner said: 'One thing you have to learn to do in this line of work is to put on a false front and the show must go on, and that’s what happened this morning.

'Gareth was in a very big road accident this week and it’s not looking great for Gareth. He is in hospital and he’s fighting but it’s not looking great.

'I didn’t want to do this show, we didn’t want to do this show, without mentioning him. Many of you would have seen him live, some of you will remember on the show, if you’ve been with us that long. He is a fantastic bloke.'

Richards started comedy in 2004, with his first gig at Malcom Hardee’s Wibbley Wobbley boat. He was a finalist in the Hackney Empire New Act Of The Year 2007 competition, and was runner-up in the Amused Moose Laugh-Off the same year.

He was the guest on the first episode of  The Frank Skinner Show after the pilot in 2009, and so hit it off with the host and co-presenter Emily Dean that he joined the team for two years. He also supported Skinner on tour.

In 2010, Richards took his first solo stand up show to the Edinburgh Fringe, where he was nominated for best newcomer. His TV appearances include Russell Howard’s Good News, Live at the Electric and the children’s panel show The Dog Ate My Homework.

Published: 1 Apr 2023