The This Country cast have paid tribute to their late friend and co-star Michael Sleggs on the one year anniversary of his death.
Michael, beloved for playing Michael ‘Slugs’ Slugette in the BBC Three comedy, died aged 33 after suffering ‘complications’ following a battle with heart failure.
Daisy May Cooper, 34, led the tributes to the star as she shared a text exchange between herself and Michael on her Instagram page on Thursday morning.
Thinking of you: The This Country cast have paid tribute to their late friend and co-star Michael Sleggs on the one year anniversary of his death
Alongside the screenshot, she penned: ‘A year ago today we lost sluggs. We all miss you so b****y much [heart emojis].
Her brother Charlie, 31, also honoured the late star by resharing a post by the This Country podcast, which read: ‘RIP Michael, The Man, The Legend. Love to family and friends. #oneyearon’
BBC Three, which airs This Country, also remembered Michael by reposting a previous tribute video to the actor which was broadcast earlier this year.
The sketch shows the lead characters, Kerry and Lee ‘Kurtan’ Mucklowe, address Slugs’ passing after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
‘We all miss you!’ Daisy May Cooper, 34, led the tributes to the star as she shared a text exchange between herself and Michael on her Instagram page on Thursday morning
The Legend: Her brother Charlie, 31, also honoured the late star by resharing a post by the This Country podcast, which read: ‘RIP Michael, The Man, The Legend. Love to family and friends. #oneyearon’
The episode – titled A Letter From Slugs – was the perfect tribute to Michael and seamlessly tied together the touching message and comedic tone of the show.
It began with a frame picture of Kerry and Slugs together, before the Vicar announced the sad news that Slugs had passed away.
In the next scene, Kerry and Kurtan discussed their feelings about his death and said: ‘Yeah, it was really sad. There were so many times that you’d think this has got to be it now, surely. And then he’d get a second wind.
Tribute: BBC Three, which airs This Country, also remembered Michael by reposting a previous tribute video to the actor which was broadcast earlier this year
‘Then a third wind, and a fourth wind. I actually lost count of how many winds he had by the end, but I think he was on something like 26th wind,’ Kurtan continued. ‘
And we saw him not long before he passed away, didn’t we?’ ‘Yeah,’ Kerry confirmed.
‘The last words he ever said to us was, “Do you guys fancy doing a zombie escape room in Swindon on Saturday?” But unfortunately, he passed away on the Friday, didn’t he?’
Honoured: The episode – titled A Letter From Slugs – was the perfect tribute to Michael and seamlessly tied together the touching message and comedic tone of the show
In the next scene, Kerry and Kurtan discussed their feelings about his death and said: ‘Yeah, it was really sad. There were so many times that you’d think this has got to be it now, surely. And then he’d get a second wind’
‘Yeah, which was sort of a relief in a way, bless him,’ Kurtan added.
Kerry sweetly added: ‘I didn’t think I’d miss him. But I really miss him.’
Paul Cooper, who plays Kerry’s dad Martin Mucklowe in the show, also took a moment to remember Michael on the anniversary of his death.
Sharing an image of them together, he wrote: ‘Miss you Michael. We all miss you. You were This Country. [heart]’
Miss you: Paul Cooper, who plays Kerry’s dad Martin Mucklowe in the show, also took a moment to remember Michael on the anniversary of his death
At the time, This Country’s ‘completely heartbroken’ co-creators Daisy and her brother Charlie praised their ‘generous, gentle and funny’ friend in a heartbreaking statement, saying he was ‘never bitter or self-pitying’ in spite of his ill health.
In a series of tweets, the pair wrote: ‘We are completely heartbroken. Michael was utterly unique.
‘He was kind, he was caring, he was loving. One of the most considerate generous and gentle friends you could ever wish for and funny- f**k me he was funny.
Tragic: The screen star passed away aged 33 following a battle with heart failure
‘Despite everything that Michael had been through in his life, he was never bitter or self pitying. He just brought pure joy to everything and everyone. Just being in his company made you happy to be alive.
‘One of Michael’s favourite films was the Muppet Christmas Carol and he would always joke that he was Tiny Tim so it only seems fitting to quote Kermit the frog…
‘It’s all right, children. Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. I am sure that we shall never forget Tiny Tim, or this first parting that there was among us’. Michael you will be so so missed. xxx’
In May last year, Michael revealed he was terminally ill following a ‘fairly rapid’ deterioration, later clarifying he was suffering from heart failure.
‘He was ‘never bitter of self-pitying’: This Country’s ‘completely heartbroken’ co-creators Daisy and her brother Charlie (pictured in 2018) praised their friend in a heartbreaking statement
He shared the sad news with his fans in a moving Facebook post, explaining he planned to spend his final days at home with his family.
Posting on his Facebook page, Michael wrote: ‘Hi friends, as a lot of you are probably aware I’ve spent a lot of time in and out of hospital over the past few months.
‘This last time it was decided i was reaching the end of options so they’ve sent me home on palliative care to live out the remainder of my days at home.
‘No specific time limit has been given but deterioration has been fairly rapid.
‘I’ve been sleeping a lot and narrowly dodged a coma by accidentally overdosing on morphine the other day.
Emotional: ‘We are completely heartbroken. Michael was utterly unique’, the pair penned
‘Anyway as you can imagine this isn’t the ideal way I wished things to go and my family are dealing with a lot of grief.
‘Just wanted to say I love everyone reading this status so much, you have all been such amazing, kind, caring people who have all touched my life in so many unique and incredible ways.
‘Sorry if this status is too shmaltzy but not everyone has the chance to say goodbye so indulge me lol.’
Michael revealed his Christian faith had helped him come to terms with his diagnosis and he was taking comfort from his religious beliefs.
Sad announcement: The WTAF A This Country podcast’s official Twitter account confirmed the news, as tributes came flooding in for the actor
‘I love you forever’: ‘So grateful I got to spend his final resting with him and so glad he is out of pain and at peace’, his friend shared
‘If you’re wondering why I’m not sounding freaked out by the whole situation’, he continued.
‘Well, initially I was, but, as always in a time of crisis (should have been way before I’m ashamed to say) I turned to God and my Christian faith.
‘Been reading the Bible daily, listening to Christian songs and sermons and its changed my entire mindset to nothing but peace and gratitude.
‘Guys, regardless of a few medical issues, I have been blessed with the best life and the best friends and aside from not following God more diligently earlier in life I dont have any regrets.
Emotional post: Michael made the news public in May last year by sharing a moving statement with his friends and followers on Facebook
‘If you dont know Jesus already, my only hope is that you get to know him before you get to my state. He’ll totally rock your world in the best way!’
Michael had previously suffered from cancer 18 years ago, but has kept his struggles out of the limelight.
On mockumentary This Country, which began airing in 2017, Slugs was introduced as the dull friend of central characters Kerry and Kurtan, who was battling terminal cancer.
He then begins a relationship with Kayleigh (Celeste Dring) after competing for the village newcomer’s affections with love rival Kurtan.
One memorable scene sees cousins Kurtan and Kerry shun poor Slugs as he tries to convince them to go to Laser Quest with him, on a mission to tick off another item from his ‘cancer bucket list’.
Kerry moans: ‘Oh s**t it’s Slugs… The thing is, he’ll trap you for ages, he’ll never leave.
‘I should feel sorry for him because he’s got terminal cancer, but he’s so utterly annoying! If you want to do a bucket list that’s fine, but don’t drag us into it.’
Show creators the Coopers based the lovable character on Sleggs himself, but Michael didn’t notice the resemblance at first.
Charlie previously told Cotswolds Life: ‘He didn’t realise the character was anything to do with him. He went up to Daisy during filming and goes, ‘I know who the character is based on.’
‘And Daisy’s like, ‘Yeah I’m sorry mate, I hope you’re all right with that.’ And he said, ‘It’s Paul Fisher isn’t it?’