Absolutely Fabulous actress Helen Lederer has broken her silence on close friend Tony Slattery after the Whose Line Is It Anyway? comic died in January. The devastated star admitted she is still reduced to floods of tears every time she hears his voice or receives a reminder of his on-screen legacy.

Tony had reportedly conquered his demons after previously struggling with cocaine and alcohol addiction and mental distress due to bipolar disorder. After turning his life around, he'd planned to make a major change and move to the Wirral with his partner Mark, before making a huge TV comeback. Sadly it was not to be, as he lived his last months as a semi-recluse - and never recovered from the heart attack that struck him on January 14.

Helen, who at 70 was five years her comedian pal's senior, is smarting at the thought that she'll never hear him crack one of his distinctive jokes again - and is still in disbelief.

“When his partner Mark texted me a few short weeks ago to tell me Tony had a heart attack, I was numb. This couldn’t be true," she agonised to the Mirror.

"He was doing so well. There was a new beginning," Helen continued, explaining that the pair had bonded over their mutual feeling of being "outsiders".

"No-one else from the comedy circuit understood me as well or so uncritically - and to lose that - means my comedy champion has truly gone.