Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne has shared the heartbreaking story of his ex-girlfriend's death from leukaemia, calling it a 'difficult time' in his life.
A Tragic Loss Revealed
The actor, best known for playing Gavin Shipman in the beloved BBC sitcom, made the emotional revelation during an appearance on Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast. While reflecting on his past relationships, the 47-year-old disclosed that a former romantic partner passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
'We were friends; we were very close friends, and everybody thought that we should be together. And eventually, we did!' Horne told Brandreth, before delivering the sad news that she had died.
When the 77-year-old Celebrity Gogglebox star responded with 'Oh no. While you knew her?', Horne confirmed the tragic timeline. 'She was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2003, and then by January 2004, she was gone. Very, very sad,' he shared.
Connection Endured Beyond Romance
Horne explained that they were not officially together at the time of her death, having gone their separate ways about a year earlier. However, he emphasised that the bond between them remained strong.
'We weren't strictly together at that time. We had gone our separate ways for about a year. But, obviously, the connection was still there. It was a difficult time,' the actor confessed. He chose not to name his late partner publicly, referring to her respectfully as a 'very, very dear friend'.
According to Cancer Research UK, leukaemia claims around 4,800 lives in the UK annually. This equates to approximately 13 deaths each day (based on 2021-2023 figures) and represents 3% of all cancer deaths in the country.
Finding Love and Happiness Again
Elsewhere in the podcast conversation, Horne spoke warmly about his current marriage to set designer Celina Bassili. The couple tied the knot in Norway in September 2021 in a private woodland ceremony at a 1930s mansion.
He described meeting Celina, who has worked on projects like Enola Holmes 2, about a year before his mother passed away. 'It became very clear that she was the one... Then I lost my mum, and Celina stood by my side throughout what was a really wretched time,' Horne said. Their connection 'grew and grew' through that period, solidifying his desire to be with her 'forever'.
The actor's romance with Bassili surprised some fans, as he had been engaged to Casualty actress Evelyn Hoskins until an amicable split in October 2018. Horne was first linked to the Norwegian designer in July 2019 while working on the Gavin and Stacey Christmas reunion special.
Prior relationships for the comedian include songwriter Laura Marling and Amber Le Bon. He also once had to publicly deny rumours of a fling with Kylie Minogue in 2009, calling it merely an unrequited crush.
Mathew Horne was last seen on screen as Gavin in the emotional Christmas Day finale of Gavin and Stacey in 2024. The special attracted a staggering 12.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched Christmas Day programme in 16 years.
