Nearly a decade after his death, the estate of comedian Sean Hughes has been passed on to homeless charity Shelter.
Hughes, best known for the comedy music show Never Mind The Buzzcocks as well as his award-winning stand up, died in 2017 following a cardiac arrest. He was 51. Having never married, he intended his three North London properties, with an estimated value of £4million, to be given to Shelter.
However, the High Court in London intervened due to vague wording in his handwritten will, which did not specify the particulars of ownership of two of the three homes. Whereas one house was owned by Hughes himself, two others were owned by a company of which Hughes was the only shareholder.
After a lengthy legal process, as well as his remaining family asserting that they believe Shelter should receive the entirety of the estate, the judge, Master Iain Pester, concluded that the “correct construction of the will” was that Hughes’ home and shares in the company pass to Shelter.
Andy Harris, Shelter’s director of income generation, said (via The Independent): “Sean Hughes was a passionate supporter of Shelter’s work, and we are enormously grateful for the generous gift left in his will. We have worked closely with Sean’s family to ensure his wishes are honoured.”
He continued: “Gifts left in wills are a vital source of income for Shelter. This donation will enable us to continue to deliver expert support and advice to people impacted by the housing emergency and to campaign for everyone’s right to a safe and secure home.”
Sean Hughes was a former NME Cover star, appearing on the front of the magazine in May 1992, alongside Cathal Coughlan of Irish band The Fatima Mansions, with whom the comedian collaborated.
Following his passing, Never Mind The Buzzcocks shared a tribute to Hughes, compiling some of the most hilarious moments from his time as a team captain on the show. The clip included some legendary skits shared with the likes of Mel B, Bob Mortimer, Noddy Holder and many more.
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