Does anyone who lives near Eastbourne or Dawlish know what happened to 'Big Chris' from Strike It Lucky?

Posted by FuckingPope@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 5 comments

This is obscure, but I'm hoping someone may help. One of my favourite ever contestant's on Michael Barrymore's Strike It Lucky was from a 1993 episode featuring Chris from Dawlish (you can view his appearance on YouTube ). He worked at a holiday park apparently, as a door person and bar staff. Proper nice guy he seems, and actually out-funnied Barrymore at points.

Anyway, on that YouTube video, one person claims that he moved to a place near Eastbourne, and 'now has one leg and goes around on a mobility scooter with his top off'. That may be untrue, but another user replied and said that they hadn't seen him for a while and that he may therefore have passed away.

So I wanted to see if anyone here perhaps recognises him from the video (or if you can't view YouTube, here's a photo from the episode ), and could share what ever happened to him? Thanks!

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Smoodymoo13@reddit

Hi, I am sorry to report that Chris passed away of a heart attack quite a few years ago. He went on the Barrymore Show on the 8th of January 1994 after Strike It Lucky (1993) and my mum was on the show with him as one of his pen pals! Her classic line was 'I like big 'uns' :) This is the video link but the person who uploaded the episode has recently made the video private: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss_y2gFEmXI :(

FuckingPope@reddit (OP)

Ah that's really sad to here. Did you have any more information about him? Was there an obituary or anything published?

My mum still has some of her letters from him because they were penpals. I believe there was an obituary but I will have to ask around.

EnvironmentalDot5176@reddit

Hi Smoodymoo13, did you ask around about Big Chris from Dawlish regarding his Obituary. I am so saddened by this news. I Hope you and your mother are well!!!

Really appreciate it.