Sean Hughes’ £4 million estate given to Shelter after decade-long will saga
Almost a decade after his death, beloved comedian Sean Hughes’ £4million estate has finally been awarded to homelessness charity Shelter following a lengthy legal saga surrounding his handwritten will.
The London-born Irish comedian, who died in 2017 aged 51, was a renowned figure in stand-up, TV, radio and writing.
Rising from the alternative comedy scene of the 1980s, the actor became the youngest person to receive the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award at the age of 24.
He later appeared in his own cult C4 show and was a long-time team captain for the BBC. Forget Buzzcocks.
Hughes, who never married, had planned his £1.8 million north London home and two additional properties worth £2.15 million to benefit Shelter, a charity he passionately supports.
But uncertainties in housebuilding will require the intervention of the High Court in London.
A judge ruled that properties worth £1.5 million and £650,000 respectively, including his former residence in Glasslyn Road, Crouch End, and two others in nearby Edison Avenue and Elder Avenue, should be transferred to the charity.
The decision brings an end to the nearly decade-long saga.
Sean was born to Irish parents in Archway, north London, but spent most of his youth living at his grandmother’s house in Dublin.
He began performing at the Comedy Store in 1987, then won the Perrier Comedy Award for his groundbreaking show in 1990. One Night Stand with Sean Hughes.
His former promoter Richard Bucknall described him as “a pioneering, groundbreaking comedian who changed comedy with the live show”, who, unlike others of his time, had a narrative flow rather than simple jokes.
From there, he moved to television and became the leading actor in his own award-winning C4 series. Sean’s Show Before becoming a BBC fixture in 1992 Forget Buzzcocks.
From 1996 to 2002 he starred as captain opposite Phill Jupitus and appeared in 91 episodes of ten series of the show hosted by Mark Lamarr.
As well as comedy, he also wrote novels and poetry collections, and from 2002 presented the Sunday morning program on the then newly formed BBC 6 Music.
Sean was a heavy drinker throughout his career and although he quit in 2012 he had started drinking again before his death, saying: “Apparently I’m boring sober.”
He died after suffering a heart attack in October 2017 and it was later revealed that he was suffering from advanced liver disease.
Sean’s will came before the High Court because he drafted the will using an online platform without legal assistance and used vague wording.
The main problem was that he left “three of my houses to the Shelter” because he actually only owned one house, while his other two houses were in the name of a company of which he was the sole shareholder.
Although Sean’s family agreed that the shares in the company, and therefore the property, should go to Shelter, the case had to be referred to a judge to make the decision.
After a brief hearing held via video link, judge Master Iain Pester concluded that the “correct construction of the will” was for the shares to pass to Shelter.
Had the judge ruled otherwise, these two properties would have been left to Sean’s remaining estate, in the trust of his wider family.
But Aidan Briggs, the solicitor who executed Sean’s will, and Alexander Learmonth KC, on behalf of Shelter, said both his family and the charity agreed Shelter was the right beneficiary.
Speaking afterwards, Andy Harris, the charity’s director of fundraising, said: “Sean Hughes was a passionate supporter of Shelter’s work and we are extremely grateful for the generous gift left in his will. “We have worked closely with Sean’s family to ensure his wishes are carried out.
“Gifts left in wills are a vital source of income for Shelter. This donation will allow us to continue to provide expert support and advice to people affected by the housing emergency and campaign for everyone’s right to a safe and secure home.”
