SEAN Lock had his life saved by a woman he hooked up with and spotted the skin cancer on his back as he cooked her breakfast.
Comedian Sean, 58, died last month following a lengthy battle with cancer, having spent his last months in a hospice before dying at home.
He had blamed over-exposure in the sun on his skin cancer, which he was tested for after a woman whom he called Tina, noticed “something weird” on his back.
The star had the mark removed and went on to make a full recovery and enjoy a long stint in comedy.
Now that woman who noticed the mark has come forward to talk about the important role she played in his life.
Terina ‘Tina’ Mallows, 55, had a fling with the comedian in the early 90s after meeting him at one of his shows.
She revealed it was when he was making her breakfast after a night together that she noticed the spot.
“It was a very long time ago and we weren’t love’s young dream. But he was such a nice man,” Tina told Mirror Online.
He had blamed over-exposure in the sun on his skin cancer, which he was tested for after a woman whom he called Tina, noticed “something weird” on his back.
The star had the mark removed and went on to make a full recovery and enjoy a long stint in comedy.
Now that woman who noticed the mark has come forward to talk about the important role she played in his life.
Terina ‘Tina’ Mallows, 55, had a fling with the comedian in the early 90s after meeting him at one of his shows.
She revealed it was when he was making her breakfast after a night together that she noticed the spot.
“It was a very long time ago and we weren’t love’s young dream. But he was such a nice man,” Tina told Mirror Online.
“In the morning he offered to cook me bacon and eggs. He had his top off and his back facing me – the mark was quite obvious.
“I jabbed him where the spot was and in jest said, ‘You’ve got skin cancer!’
“He freaked out and said, ‘What? Really? Where?’ I was probably still a bit drunk from the night before. I said, ‘Where I’ve just prodded you’, and I suggested he get it checked out.”
Even though the pair’s fling fizzled out, Tina later learned she saved his life.
“I was with a girl called Tina one night and if I hadn’t been, well, I’d be dead now,” Sean said in a 2010 interview.
“She said there was something weird on my back. It didn’t hurt or itch and being in the small of my back it wasn’t something you could easily see.”
Tina added: “What happened took place all those years ago, yet he told the world that I saved him. It’s just so nice.”
Lock’s agent confirmed in August that the dad-of-three had died surrounded by his family.
A statement from Off The Kerb Productions said: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sean Lock.
“He died at home from cancer, surrounded by his family.
“Sean was one of Britain’s finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit and the absurdist brilliance of his work, marked him out as a unique voice in British comedy.
“Sean was also a cherished husband and father to three children.
“Sean will be sorely missed by all that knew him.”
The star was previously diagnosed with skin cancer in 1990 while he worked as a labourer on a building site, but it is not clear if the disease returned.
He went on to make a full recovery and has since worked with others to help raise awareness of the disease.
Lock’s final public appearance was in December when he appeared in a video for charity Edible London.
His TV career began in 1993 when he starred alongside Rob Newman and David Baddiel on their signature show Newman And Baddiel In Pieces.
In 2005, the comic became a team captain on panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats and went on to appear for 18 series.
Lock was married to Anoushka Nara Giltsoff and the pair had two daughters born in 2004 and 2006, and a son born in 2009.
Channel 4 said in a statement: “Incredibly sad to learn of the loss of one of our greatest comedians, Sean Lock”, the channel wrote on Twitter.
“A much loved part of the C4 family he’s played a huge role on the channel for over two decades, and we’ll miss him.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
