Little Britain's Matt Lucas faces multimillion payout in first gay celebrity divorce

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Little Britain star Matt Lucas has split from his long-term partner in the first celebrity gay 'divorce'.

The couple underwent a civil partnership 18 months ago, which means that Kevin McGee can by law expect a large chunk of the comedian's estimated £15 million fortune.

Lucas has employed Mishcon de Reya, the same solicitors used by Heather Mills in her divorce from Paul McCartney, and by Princess Diana.

Happier times: The couple at the pantomime-themed reception for their civil partnership

Happier times: The couple at the pantomime-themed reception for their civil partnership

Break up: Lucas seen in London's West End today hours after the split from his partner was announced

Break up: Lucas seen in London's West End today hours after the split from his partner was announced

TV star: Matt Lucas as Daffyd 'the only gay in the village' in hit BBC show Little Britain

One legal source said last night that 31-year-old McGee should expect a house, a period of financial maintenance and substantial lump sum considering they co-habited for much of the four years they were together before the civil union - and also considering the TV producer supported Lucas as his career was taking off.

This is the first time a high-profile wealthy gay couple have dissolved their legal union.

Friends told the Mail the couple had grown apart and 'fallen out of love' against a background of 34-year-old Lucas's spiralling fame in Britain and America.

'They have been seeing less and less of eachother. Matt and Kevin used to have so much in common but his career has taken off while Kevin has stayed in the same place.They are not the same people as they were when they started dating six years ago.

'They have grown apart and fallen out of love. It happens in gay relationships just the same as in straight ones. There is nothing more dramatic in it than that.

'There have been arguments and things said and after a while it has become draining and upsetting. It has been enormously painful for them both to admit they are better off apart.'

'Kevin also made noises about the amount of time he was spending at work with David (Walliams). They concluded that their lives have grown apart and that they have just fallen out of love,' said a friend.

'There was much soul-searching between them. Matt is really concerned because it does not do much for the image of gay civil partnerships. But he thinks that you can't live in a loveless marriage and if it's over, then it's over.'

The couple were married in a civil partnership ceremony 18 months ago, and they will be the first wealthy celebrity gay couple to 'divorce' since the law was changed to allow same-sex ceremonies in December 2005.

Split: Little Britain star Matt Lucas and his partner Kevin McGee - who had a civil partnership ceremony 18 months ago - have called it quits

Split: Little Britain star Matt Lucas and his partner Kevin McGee - who had a civil partnership ceremony 18 months ago - have called it quits

The rules on civil partnership dissolution are broadly the same as those for divorce.

The courts will, for example, have the power to order that one partner pays maintenance, or hands over part of their pension.

'Rights and responsibilities on dissolution will include fair arrangements for property and asset division, residence arrangements and appropriate contact with children. This is the same as divorce,' according to gay rights lobbying group Stonewall.

It is not known whether Lucas and McGee signed a 'pre-civil partnership agreement' - the equivalent of a pre-nup - to secure Lucas's burgeoning fortune.

A friends of the couple added: 'Matt is not looking for a legal battle. He hopes Kevin will take a swift out of court settlement. He hopes the details of the break-up will remain private.'

Their dissolution certainly bucks the trend. There is a low-rate of break-ups between gay civil partners since the law changed. However, the initial swell of same-sex couples exchanging vows has significantly tailed off.

The Mail first revealed in March 2005 that Lucas and McGee were in a serious relationship, had exchanged eternity bands and planned to marry when civil partnerships between same-sex couples were made law.

At the time, Lucas spoke of his lover saying: 'I have a long-term partner. He's beardy at the moment. We call him Baby Bedingfield. I love him very much.'

Their relationship has not harmed McGee's career prospects. When the couple met, McGee worked for Carbon Media, a branch of a larger television company called Princess Productions.

But he quickly moved to the BBC's offices at Wood Lane where he got a job as a producer with the Comic Relief team.  At the time Lucas also had strong links with Comic Relief.

Wedding bash: Sir Elton John and his partner David furnish at the couple's party

Wedding bash: Sir Elton John and his partner David furnish at the couple's party

Fancy dressers: David Walliams as 'Christopher Biggins' with Barbara Windsor

Fancy dressers: David Walliams as 'Christopher Biggins' with Barbara Windsor

But his success has never come close to matching that of Lucas. He has a £3million three-year deal with BBC, but on top of that has struck a further deal with HBO in America and is currently in the States filming Little Britain USA. He is currently thought to be worth in the region of £5 million.

That series, which features a number of celebrity cameos from such stars as Sting and David Schwimmer, is destined to catapult Lucas and co-star David Walliams to US stardom.

BBC sources suggest the amount of time Lucas has spent abroad recently has contributed to the break-up.

In May 2006, the couple became engaged and six month later, Lucas and McGee entered into a civil partnership at a ceremony at the private member's club Home House in Central London.

Celebrity civil partners

Celebrity civil partners

The couple, who share a £1.5 million home in St John's Wood, North-West London, appealed for privacy over the coverage of the 'wedding'.

They then only appeared to being drawing attention to themselves when Lucas arrived in an exotic Aladdin's costume with pink plumes and gold spangled trousers and a bolero jacket while McGee was dressed as Prince Charming.

Guest included Courtney Love as the Queen of Hearts in a blood-red gown, EastEnders bad-boy Steve McFadden as the Demon Prince accompanied by Barbara Windsor as the Fairy Godmother.

Little Britain co-star Walliams was in a blue and yellow Billy Bunter-style blazer and comic Paul O'Grady arrived as Captain Hook. Will Young was dressed as an Ugly Sister and Vic Reeves' wife Nancy Sorrell drew admiring applause from the crowd as a cheeky Bo Peep in a saucy short skirt and knee-high socks.

Sir Elton and Furnish turned out as Captain Hook and Prince Charming.

At the time an onlooker said: 'They were so sweet. They looked very much in love but also a bit like a couple of naughty schoolboys.''

Yesterday they said their split was "amicable".

A joint statement from legal representatives Mishcon de Reya and Withers LLP said: 'It is with sadness that Matt and Kevin announce that their relationship has come to an end. Their separation is amicable.

'They ask the press to respect their privacy at this time and to exercise restraint in any reporting of this matter.'


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