BBC The One Show host shares heartfelt tribute to TV icon after tragic death

Lauren Laverne and Roman Kemp hosted The One Show on Tuesday night

The One Show host Lauren Laverne has shared a heartfelt tribute to a TV icon after their tragic death. Lauren, alongside her co-host Roman Kemp, fronted the popular BBC show on Tuesday (January 13), covering the day’s top stories.

Studio guests included Paddy McGuinness and Cherry Healey, who discussed the upcoming series of Inside the Factory, whilst Griff Rhys-Jones talked about his forthcoming West End performance in I’m Sorry, Prime Minister.

Penned and helmed by Jonathan Lynn, the BAFTA-winning co-creator behind Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, the fresh satirical production serves as a final send-off to two iconic figures in British comedy – ex-Prime Minister Jim Hacker and his formidable adversary, Sir Humphrey Appleby.

Griff is set to portray Hacker, with Clive Francis taking on the role of Appleby, at the Apollo Theatre starting January 30, reports Wales Online.

During her conversation with Griff on this evening’s instalment of The One Show, Lauren paused to acknowledge his former comedy collaborator, Mel Smith, who tragically died aged 60 in 2013 after suffering a heart attack.

“[You] have big shoes to fill and who better to fill them because Yes, Minister has its place in comedy history, you know, so do you. Can you believe it was 40 years ago that you introduced Queen at Live Aid with your late comedy partner Mel Smith?” Lauren remarked.

Footage of that legendary moment was subsequently shown on screen, with Lauren noting: “I read that this was typical prep for Mel, the runup to this.”

Griff humorously recalled: “Well, what happened, we introduced Queen, and Queen would have been nothing if we hadn’t of been there. Do you remember from the film, they go away and rehearsed for three weeks, and Mel rehearsed for three seconds with me.

“He arrived and said, ‘What are we doing mate?’ And I said, ‘Oh look, here, look, say this when we go on,’ and Mel goes, ‘Okay, love,’ and off we go.”

Lauren chimed in: “He had that photographic memory didn’t he?” to which Griff agreed: “Yeah, he did. He was very, very quick on the uptake.

“I remember it, of course 40 years ago, because as soon as we’d finished, he sat down and he went, ‘Ah, well there we are mate, I’m off’. And I said, ‘Mel! I skipped my child’s christening to be here and you’re leaving!’ And so, all it does is help me this year to remember exactly how old [my son] George is.”

Roman wrapped up the conversation saying: “I always love hearing about those comedy partnerships and how they work together.”

Elsewhere on tonight’s show, BBC Morning Live host Gethin Jones reported live from Manchester Cathedral, showcasing an immersive light experience.

The One Show airs weeknights on BBC One at 7pm