This Country star Michael Sleggs has died at the age of 33.
The actor is well-known to comedy fans for playing Slugs in the hit BBC Three series.
His death comes just over a month after he confirmed he had been receiving palliative care for heart failure.
The news was announced by the WTAF A This Country podcast’s official Twitter, with a post that read: “We are devastated!
“Our friend, the man the legend Michael Sleggs Slugs passed away last night. RIP Michael. You are one in a million.”
Charlie and Daisy May Cooper, who write and star in This Country, posted a joint statement on the former’s Twitter page.
The pair said they were “completely heartbroken”, praising Michael as “utterly unique, kind, caring and loving”.
″[He was] One of the most considerate generous and gentle friends you could ever wish for and funny – fuck me he was funny,” they said. “Despite everything that Michael had been through in his life, he was never bitter or self pitying.
“He just brought pure joy to everything and everyone. Just being in his company made you happy to be alive.”
Ending the string of tweets with reference to Michael’s favourite film, The Muppet Christmas Carol, they said: “He would always joke that he was Tiny Tim so it only seems fitting to quote Kermit the frog...
“It’s all right, children. Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. I am sure that we shall never forget Tiny Tim, or this first parting that there was among us.”
“Michael you will be so so missed. xxx,” they said.
In a statement issued to HuffPost UK, BBC’s comedy commissioning boss Shane Allen said: “We are all crushed by this sad news. Michael was a true one off and an idiosyncratic part of the show’s distinctive world.
“His work and spirit will endure as part of the ongoing popular legacy of this much loved show. Our hearts go out to family and friends at this poignant time.”
The show’s producer Simon Mayhew-Archer shared his condolences on Wednesday morning.
He wrote on Twitter: “Michael encapsulated the spirit and humour of This Country.
“He was a fantastic, talented man who brought tremendous joy to all who knew him & saw him. I loved working with him & will miss him.”
Mockumentary This Country is written by, and stars, siblings Daisy May and Charlie Cooper.
The duo play cousins Kerry and Kurtan, who show a camera crew around the place they grew up, a sleepy village in the Cotswolds.
They based Michael’s character on him and the part was his first TV role.
