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Matt Lucas's ex-husband Kevin McGee hangs himself after leaving Facebook
suicide note
By Sophie
Borland and Kate
Loveys
Last updated at 11:39 AM on 06th October 2009
The former husband of Matt Lucas has been found dead in his flat after
hanging himself.
Kevin McGee, 32, who divorced the Little Britain star ten months ago at the
High Court, was found at his home after writing a suicide note on the social
networking site Facebook.
McGee, a TV producer, posted the message: 'Kevin McGee thinks that death is
much better than life.'
He is thought to have become deeply depressed over the past few months after
breaking up with the comedian, and friends reported that his drug-taking had
spiralled out of control.
Heartbreak: Matt Lucas is said to be 'utterly destroyed'
after learning ex-partner Kevin McGee committed suicide by hanging himself.
Lucas and McGee are seen here after their civil partnership ceremony in
2006
Final message: McGee's Facebook page
The couple had been together for nearly six years when they announced their
split in June 2008.
Police broke into McGee's flat in the Bruntsfield district of Edinburgh at
8am yesterday and he was found hanged.
The ominous message had been posted less than four hours earlier, at 4.26am -
after which a fearful friend alerted the police.
Matt Lucas, 35, was said to be 'utterly destroyed' by the news and was being
comforted by close friend and comedy partner David Walliams at his home in
Marylebone, London.
He was too devastated to comment last night and did not attend an awards
ceremony where he and Walliams were due to make a guest appearance.
Until further notice, he has also pulled out of West End play Prick Up Your
Ears in which he is starring.
A friend of Lucas and McGee said: 'Matt was floored when he heard the
news.
'He always loved Kevin despite their differences and their difficult
marriage.'
Happier times: The couple at the pantomime-themed
reception for their civil partnership but they announced their split in
2008
Just a week earlier, McGee had appeared positive, writing on the same site:
'Kevin thinks there's nothing he can't face... except for bunnies.'
When the couple first met in a nightclub - before Lucas was famous - McGee
worked for Carbon Media, a branch of a larger television company called Princess
Productions.
They married in December 2006 in a flamboyant pantomime-themed ceremony at
Home House, a private members' club in central London.
Guests including Sir Elton John, Paul O'Grady, Barbara Windsor and Courtney
Love joined the couple for a lavish party afterwards dressed up as their
favourite nursery rhyme characters.
But just 18 months after the ceremony, the relationship broke down when McGee
admitted his unreasonable behaviour had caused an irretrievable breakdown in
their relationship.
McGee often spent large amounts on cocaine and Lucas paid for him to attend
rehab.
One friend said: 'Kevin found it really difficult to deal with Matt's fame.
Being thrust into the world of A-list parties and free booze was hard.
Deep in thought: Matt and Kevin in June last year - the
month they announced their split after six years together
'Matt is a pretty down-to-earth guy and never touches drugs. Cracks started
to show in the marriage because as much as Matt loved Kevin, he couldn't deal
with his behaviour.'
He added: 'They had awful rows. In the end, Matt just said he couldn't deal
with it any more.'
McGee, who was studying for a degree, did not appear suicidal according to a
neighbour.
'A month ago, he got a labrador puppy. He seemed a nice guy with no signs of
any obvious problems. He never mentioned Matt Lucas.'
In what became the first celebrity gay divorce, High Court District Judge
Caroline Reid granted a 'quickie' decree in the 75-second long hearing.
Lucas employed Mishcon de Reya, the same solicitors initially used by Heather
Mills in her divorce from Paul McCartney.
Matt Lucas celebrates with close friend David Walliams
last week at the Prick Up Your Ears after-party
McGee was said to have received about £1.8million from the settlement but,
according to a friend, still had unpaid bills and couldn't even afford to pay
for his mobile.
Among the characters played by Lucas on Little Britain are the teenage chav
Vicky Pollard - catchphrase 'Yeah but, No but' - and Daffyd, the Only Gay In The
Village.
Lucas, who is now seeing someone else, has been away filming a US version
with co-star Walliams, which has meant he has rarely seen McGee recently.
Last month, he admitted to a gay paper that the break-up had been
difficult.
He said: 'I'm in a much better place than I was. Time is a great healer.'
Last night, a Lothian and Borders police spokesman confirmed: 'Police were
called to an address in Bruntsfield Gardens, at 8am, where they found the body
of a 32-year-old man.'