Charlie Cooper has paid tribute to his ‘This Country’ co-star Michael Sleggs, who died from heart complications at the age of 33.
Cooper, the co-writer and co-creator of the mockumentary sitcom, took to Twitter to pay tribute to his late friend and colleague, describing Sleggs as a "unique" talent and a "considerate generous and gentle friend".
In a moving thread on Twitter, Cooper said: "We are completely heartbroken. Michael was utterly unique. He was kind, he was caring, he was loving. One of the most considerate generous and gentle friends you could ever wish for and funny – f**k me he was funny."
Sleggs – who played Slugs in the BBC Three show – had written on Facebook in May he had been receiving palliative care due to heart failure, before being sent home to "live out the remainder" of his days, telling fans that his "deterioration" was "fairly rapid".
In his tribute, Cooper also acknowledged Sleggs’ strength of character in the wake of his terminal diagnosis.
He added: "Despite everything that Michael had been through in his life, he was never bitter or self-pitying. He just brought pure joy to everything and everyone. Just being in his company made you happy to be alive."
Cooper rounded off his tweets with a touching quote from one of his friend’s favourite films.
He said: "One of Michael’s favourite films was the Muppet Christmas Carol and he would always joke that he was Tiny Tim so it only seems fitting to quote Kermit the Frog… ‘It’s all right, children. Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. I am sure that we shall never forget Tiny Tim, or this first parting that there was among us.’ Michael you will be so so missed. Xxx"
Charlie Cooper ‘heartbroken’ over Michael Sleggs’ death
