BBC comedy icon Tony Slattery unrecognisable in last TV stint before death

Tony Slattery, who shot to fame in the 1980s, died on Tuesday morning at the age of 65, just days after suffering a heart attack, his partner Mark Michael Hutchinson announced

The comedy world is mourning the loss of Tony Slattery, who had made a roaring comeback to the stage just months before his untimely death.

The star, known for his stints on ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ and ‘Have I Got News for You’, died aged 65 after suffering a heart attack days earlier, as confirmed by his partner Mark Michael Hutchinson on Tuesday (January 14).

Social media has been flooded with heartfelt tributes, with one fan on X hailing him as a “very funny man”. Tony’s death comes just seven months after he delighted audiences in May last year with his show ‘Tony Slattery Resuscitated’ at The Wro Bar and Loft in West Kirby, Wirral, marking a return to form after years away from the spotlight.

The gig was his first major appearance since around 2014, following a period of personal struggles including substance abuse and excessive drinking, which he openly discussed. His charm and wit had once made him a household name in the late 80s and early 90s before his life took a difficult turn in the mid-1990s.

Accounts claim Tony’s weekly splurge on cocaine rocketed to a mind-blowing £4,000 during his darkest days of addiction. Tony himself admitted that he can’t remember the exact amount but said he “would not be surprised” if it hit those levels, reports the Mirror.

The year 1996 marked a life-changing moment for Tony as he withdrew from the outside world, spending six months in seclusion, ignoring calls and the persistent knocks at his door. It took a close pal breaking in to convince him to finally get medical help, which led to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

He openly discussed this challenging period in the eye-opening 2006 documentary ‘The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive’, presented by Stephen Fry. Tony has kept out of the limelight for years, dodging TV interviews till he broke his silence in 2020 on ‘This Morning’.

The BBC cast a spotlight on his struggles with a 2020 documentary titled ‘Whatever Happened To Tony Slattery?’, delving into his battle with drugs and bipolar issues. Throughout his personal rollercoaster, Tony’s long-term partner Mark has been an unwavering source of support since 1986.

Reflecting on his career highs and lows with Wirral Globe last May, Tony confessed: “I did a lot of terrible things, for example the drinking and taking drugs, which were extremely low points for me. But the highlights have been many. I loved being part of films such as Peter’s Friends with Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson and I was also in the Crying Game.”