Little Britain star's gay divorce

June 18, 2008 10:00pm
Matt Lucas


It's over ... Matt Lucas, one half of the Little Britain comedy duo has filed for the world's first gay celebrity divorce / supplied
LITTLE Britain star Matt Lucas has split from his long-term partner in the first celebrity gay divorce.
The couple's pantomime-themed civil partnership ceremony 18 months ago means TV producer Kevin McGee, 31, can now expect a big chunk of the comedian's $31 million fortune.

Lucas has already employed Heather Mills's divorce lawyer Mishcon de Reya.

A legal source said McGee can expect a house, financial maintenance and a substantial sum of cash, having lived with Lucas for four years before they wed and supported Lucas before his career took off.

A friend of Lucas said: "Matt is really concerned it does not do much for the image of gay civil partnerships.

"But he thinks you can't live in a loveless marriage and if it's over, then it's over."

Same-sex civil ceremonies have been legal in the UK since December 2005.

Friends of the couple said they'd "fallen out of love" amid 34-year-old Lucas's rise to fame in Britain and the US. A joint statement from their lawyers said the split was "amicable".

"His (Lucas's) career has taken off while Kevin has stayed in the same place," the friend said.

"They have grown apart and fallen out of love. It happens in gay relationships just the same as in straight ones.

"Kevin also made noises about the amount of time he was spending at work with David (Walliams)."

It is not known if Lucas and McGee signed a pre-nup.

The friend added: "(Matt) hopes Kevin will take a swift out-of-court settlement. He hopes the details of the break-up remain private."

Matt Lucas files for the first celebrity gay divorce.