Little Britain star to 'marry' gay partner

Little Britain star Matt Lucas is to 'marry' his long-term partner Kevin McGee.

The star decided to pop the question in May this year and is reported to be 'absolutely delighted' that his partner said yes.

The gay comic met 30-year-old producer McGee at a nightclub four years ago, and at first kept his lover out of the limelight, rarely posing for pictures with him at celebrity events.

But the 32-year-old funnyman has recently become more open about his relationship, writing in his new book 'Inside Little Britain' that he and McGee feel destined to be together.

And Lucas' publicist confirmed yesterday (Thursday, September 7) that the couple are now to enter into a civil partnership. The couple have yet to fix a date for the ceremony.

The Daily Mail revealed in March last year that the couple had exchanged silver eternity bands, and were considering making a firm commitment when government altered the civil partnership law at Christmas.

Ministers changed the law on December 5 2005, giving all homosexuals in civil partnerships the same legal rights as married heterosexuals.

A source close to the couple told how they were making plans to cement their relationship.

The source said: "The rings are a sign to outsiders that they consider their relationship to be for good.

"They are very happy together and this was just a way of taking their relationship a stage further."

The duo, who recently moved into a luxurious £1 million home in St John's Wood, have long been open as a couple in celebrity circles.

Lucas invited McGee to George Michael's birthday in June 2004, and they have been considered a solid couple for years.

The comedian affectionately nicknames McGee 'Baby Bedingfield', because he looks similar to pop singer Daniel Bedingfield.

Speaking of the 30-year-old, who works at the BBC's Wood Lane offices as a producer with the Comic Relief team, Lucas jokingly said: "I have a long-term partner. He's beardy at the moment. We call him Baby Bedingfield. I love him very much."

The star tells in his book how his mother Diana was 'shocked and surprised' when he told her he was gay.

But Lucas adds that she thinks McGee is a 'lovely boy'.

The comic said: "I may not be able to give her babies but I can give her Baftas."

Lucas has become famous for catchphrases used in Little Britain including 'I want that one', used by wheelchair-bound yet able-bodied character Andy to harass his carer, Lou, played by David Walliams.

And he is also well-known for catchphrase 'I'm the only gay in the village', which he uses when in character as Welsh unemployed 'homosexualist' Daffyd.