face to face
David Walliams and Matt Lucas see each other at Dale Winton’s funeral for first time after seven year feud
DAVID Walliams and Matt Lucas came face to face for the first time in seven years at Dale Winton's funeral today.
The pair rose to fame together in the early noughties thanks to their hit sketch show Little Britain, before they stopped working with each other in 2011, amid reports of tension.
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However the men both stepped out in London today to pay their respects to their friend, Dale Winton, who passed away in April aged 62.
With their eyes covered by sunglasses, both Matt, 44, and David, 46, looked understandably sombre as they passed each other on the steps of the church in Marylebone.
Dale Winton’s famous friends including Piers Morgan, David Walliams and Anthea Turner arrive for his London funeral
Matt and David met at the National Youth Theatre and quickly bonded over their love of comedy and impressions.
After smaller TV parts they finally made it big in 2003 with Little Britain, with the show running until 2009.
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However Matt wrote in his autobiography about how tensions rose between the pair in 2005 during their epic Little Britain Live tour, leading to a spectacular fight backstage one night.
In the book, Little Me, Matt revealed they were "often at loggerheads" and rows over trivial matters, including what kind of chocolate to have backstage, often escalated.
One particular disagreement over David's facial hair during the tour turned into an all-out screaming match.
It started when they were in Oxford preparing for a Comic Relief special.
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The sketch that set them off featured an onstage kiss as the comics played Judy and Maggie, two ladies of the Women's Institute who vomit at the mention of lesbians.
Matt branded David inconsiderate for failing to shave every day as his stubble was giving him a rash - and David hit back saying it couldn't possibly be that painful.
It turned into a huge row and Matt explained that "suddenly we were hurling obscenities at each other".
David Walliams reveals he was worried about close friend Dale Winton before his death
While they managed to make amends, they locked horns again while on the Australian leg of the tour in 2007 and despite making their second show, Come Fly With Me, together, the partnership dissolved in 2011.
In the book, Matt also made a series of snide digs at his former partner, sniping: "Walliams has now sold so many children's books he can probably buy his own private jet, all decked out in pink, with a river inside it for him to swim up."
But despite any problems in their past, the pair will have bonded in their grief for Supermarket Sweep host Dale, who was a great friend to both of them.
Soon after his death, David spoke movingly about his pal on BBC Radio 4 show Front Row.
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Shedding a tear, he said: "People on TV there's often a bit of a mask, people show a certain side of them, but with Dale the two were as close as they could be.
"He was a really beautiful soul and I'm going to miss him terribly.
"I'm sure everyone will as well."
Supermarket Sweep legend Dale Winton has died aged 62
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Dale's funeral was attended by a host of famous faces including Gloria Hunniford, Piers Morgan, Gaby Roslin and Christopher Biggins.
The non-religious service to celebrate his life was held on what would have been his 63rd birthday.
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