Irish comedian Sean Hughes dies aged 51

Irish comedian and quiz show panellist Sean Hughes has died aged 51.

His management company confirmed his passing this morning. He is believed to have been suffering from cirrhosis of the liver.

Hughes, also a writer and an actor, was in hospital in London’s Whittington Hospital.

The stand-up comedian starred in Never Mind the Buzzcocks and sitcom Sean’s Show.

His last tweet, on October 8, merely stated “in hospital”.

Born in London, Hughes was raised in Firhouse, Dublin and began his comedy career in the late 1980s.

He had a minor role in 1991 Alan Parker’s Dublin-set classic The Commitments before going on to star in his own sitcom, Sean’s Show.

From the late 1990s into the early noughties he was a team captain in BBC’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Hughes also starred in TV shows including The Last Detective and Coronation Street.