On 5th April 2021 actor, Paul Ritter passed away. His death was announced by his agent in a statement that read:
“He [Paul Ritter] died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side. He was 54 and had been suffering from a brain tumour.”
Whilst many knew Ritter as the loveable Martin Goodman in the popular Channel 4 show, Friday Night Dinner, the versatility of film, stage and TV roles he played were numerous. His character, Martin Goodman of Friday Night Dinner, contrasted significantly to that of his character, Anatoly Dyatlov, in the 2019 TV series Chernobyl, based on the famous 1986 nuclear power plant disaster.
In addition to these, and many other TV roles, Ritter had known success both in films, including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and the The Quantum of Solace, and on stage in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Coram Boy and the Norman Conquests, which saw him nominated for both a Tony Award and an Olivier Award.
Many fans will remember him best as Martin Goodman in the hugely popular Channel 4 show, Friday Night Dinner. For the past 9 years, families across the country gathered to watch this show, repeating lines throughout the week in their own homes- such as “crimble crumble”, “lovely bit of squirrel”, asking their teenagers whether they’d met any “females” and perhaps referencing Martin’s most well-known line, “Shit on it!”
Fans were shocked to hear of his death and his private battle with ill health. Hundreds took to Twitter to express their sadness and pay tribute to his acting talent.
Fellow comedy actor Stephen Mangan tweeted:
Ritter’s on-screen wife, Tamsin Greig, wrote in The Guardian on Wednesday: “Without Paul Ritter, the world is a less brilliant place.'”
Whilst fellow actors and those who had worked with Ritter called him a ‘gentleman,’ a ‘genius,’ and ‘kind and warm,’ fans also shared how Ritter had touched their lives with his incredible talent, such as fan Kian Ward, who wrote: “Heartbroken by the news about Paul Ritter today FDN and Martin got me through many dark moments in the last few years.”
Whilst Dave Ludlow wrote:
“I laughed harder than I can ever remember watching this man on TV. A true legend, taken far too soon. R.I.P Paul Ritter.”
One thing seems certain, ‘Friday Night Dinners’ will never be the same again.
Featured image: Molly Goble and Nicola Henry In the last five years, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people have risen by 112%, underscoring the critical need for safe, inclusive spaces where queer individuals can find a sense of belonging. Amid this crisis, Queer Lit has emerged as a sanctuary in the form of a literary refuge…
By Evie-Iris Atkins and Megan Levick. Featured image: UNITOM. As part of our new series In Print: Celebrating Print Culture in Manchester, we speak to UNITOM head publishing buyer Tim Bell. “Celebrating the worlds of visual culture” is what Northern Quarter magazine and bookshop UNITOM does best, says head publishing buyer Tim Bell. With an…
Featured image: Ruby Sharp Good food has the power to bring people together, and in Manchester, this couldn’t be more true. We explore how family-run restaurants are going above and beyond for their community. Since opening in 2019, Fress, located in the Northern Quarter, has made a name for itself not just for its food,…
Featured image and gallery: Gracie Hall Gorilla gets its brains rocked out by Lambrini Girls. The Brighton-based punk duo who are touring their debut album, Who Let The Dogs Out, blend riot grrrl and neurodivergent humour to form a chaotic but inclusive evening. With Phoebe Lunny on vocals and guitar, Lilly Macieira-Boşgelmez on bass and…
1 Comment
Friday Night Dinner was definitely a “ must watch not to be missed” in our house. A true legend, talent was effortless. RIP Paul. Had an has certainly gained a diamond, who will be a very sad loss to earth xx