British comedian Sean Lock has died of cancer at 58, his agent has confirmed.
He is best known for his appearances on UK panel shows such as 8 Out Of 10 Cats and 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
He is survived by his wife, Anoushka Nara Giltsoff, their two daughters and a son.
"It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sean Lock. He died at home from cancer, surrounded by his family," his agent Off The Kerb Productions announced.
"Sean was one of Britain's finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit and the absurdist brilliance of his work, marked him out as a unique voice in British comedy.
"Sean was also a cherished husband and father to three children. Sean will be sorely missed by all that knew him. We kindly request that the privacy of his family and children is respected at this difficult time."
Lock was a regular on several UK shows, including the series 8 Out of 10 Cats, hosted by Jimmy Carr, on which he captained a team. He has also appeared on QI, The Last Leg, Have I Got News for You and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.
Tributes to Sean Lock
A number of fellow comedians have tweeted their tributes to Lock following the announcement of his death.
Comedian Lee Mack, a friend of Lock's, said: "A true original both in comedy and life. I will miss him so much."
Never Mind The Buzzcocks captain Bill Bailey, who is due to perform in Dubai in 2022, described the news as "heartbreaking" in a tweet, writing: "He was a true original, a wonderful comic. All my thoughts are with his family."
Omid Djalili described Lock's death as a "devastating loss", saying he was "easily one of the funniest on and off the stage".
The Office star and comedian Ricky Gervais wrote: "Such sad news. RIP the great Sean Lock. One of the funniest, most influential comedians of a generation. A lovely man."
British-Malaysian stand-up comedian Phil Wang wrote: "So dreadfully sad. Sean Lock was one of the best. A rare comedian who could make you laugh like a drain if you’d never seen comedy before or had watched it every day of your life."
Richard Osman recalled working with Lock on 8 Out Of 10 Cats for more than 15 years, saying he "made [him] laugh so much and so often", adding that he was "a unique and brilliant comic voice".
Susie Dent, the lexicographer on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, wrote: "I wish I had the words to describe the exceptional man that was Sean Lock. But today I don’t, and I think he might have liked it that way."
Jon Richardson, who starred with Lock on 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, wrote: "I idolised Sean as a comic long before I became a comedian myself and 10 years working alongside him didn’t diminish that in the least. An incredible comic brain and a truly unique voice.
"I’m devastated for his family today and sad for comedy that we have lost one of the very best. Undisputed, undefeated, carrot in a box champion. I will miss him."
Eddie Izzard wrote: "So sorry to hear this. Farewell Sean, you brought a wonderful comedic talent to the world and you will be missed."
Lock was a fan of Chelsea Football Club, and the team paid tribute to him on social media saying they were "saddened" to learn of his death. "Sean was a much-loved comedian, fan of the Blues and a regular at Stamford Bridge."
Jonathan Creek and QI star Alan Davies wrote: "Sad news about Sean Lock. Funny on stage, hilarious off. We met in 1988 right at the start of our stand-up careers. I hadn’t seen him in recent years as he quietly wrestled with illness but I feel very sad today for Anoushka and their children. RIP Locky."
Doctor Who star and comedian John Bishop wrote: "He was a brilliant comedian but more importantly he was a great person on so many levels. He will be missed hugely."
Comedian Ross Noble wrote that Lock was "a massive talent who made stand-up look effortless and approached his illness in the same no-nonsense way he approached life".
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
Saturday 15 January: v Canada
Thursday 20 January: v England
Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly, Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya Shetty, Kai Smith
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
MATCH INFO
Day 2 at Mount Maunganui
England 353
Stokes 91, Denly 74, Southee 4-88
New Zealand 144-4
Williamson 51, S Curran 2-28
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
