British comedian Sean Lock has died at the age of 58 following a battle with cancer.
According to BBC News, his agent announced the sad news of his passing in an official press statement made on Wednesday, August 18. stating:
"It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sean Lock. He died at home from cancer, surrounded by his family."
They continued: "Sean was one of Britain's finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit, and the absurdist brilliance of his work, marked him out as a unique voice in British comedy.
"Sean was also a cherished husband and father to three children. Sean will be sorely missed by all that knew him. We kindly request that the privacy of his family and children is respected at this difficult time."
Lock was best known for serving as the Team Captain on the panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats, but also made regular guest appearances on other television comedy series such as QI, Have I Got News For You, and Big Fat Quiz Of The Year.
Thanks to his trademark deadpan delivery style and dark material, Lock was named best live comic at the British Comedy Award in 2000.
He was also voted the 55th greatest stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups in 2007, and again in the updated 2010 list as the 19th greatest stand-up comic.
Lock also wrote and starred in the popular BBC sitcom 15 Storeys High. Set in a tower block, the comedian played a pessimistic character called Vince who lived with his flatmate Errol, played by Benedict Wong.
In addition to this, he also presented the Channel 4 series TV Heaven, Telly Hell - in which Lock invited celebrity guests to select and discuss their favourite and their most hated television shows.
The Sun reports that Lock had previously been diagnosed with skin cancer while working as a labourer in the early nineties, but it is currently unknown whether or not a resurgence of this particular cancer is what led to his death.