Bobby Davro Reveals How Comedy Became His Lifeline Through Grief
Comedy legend Bobby Davro has candidly discussed the emotional turmoil of performing stand-up gigs during the most devastating period of his life, three years after the tragic death of his fiancée Vicky Wright. The 57-year-old entertainer described struggling with overwhelming grief, often crying on his way to performances, taking to the stage, and then breaking down again once back in his dressing room.
Laughter as Medicine During Heartbreak
Speaking during Hayley Palmer's show An Audience at The Hippodrome in London's Leicester Square, Davro insisted that being a comedian paradoxically helped him navigate his sorrow. 'I've been going on stage, but being a comedian it actually helps, laughter is the best medicine,' he stated, before adding his characteristic dark humor: 'unless you've got erectile dysfunction then that's just cruel.'
Davro elaborated on this therapeutic dynamic, explaining: 'When I have been my saddest, you go on stage and you've got to think about what you're doing. You go on stage and it helps.' He continued with raw honesty: 'I've cried many times when I have lost people in my life and cried all the way to the venue. You go on and you do the show, people are laughing, you hear the laughter and then you go back in the dressing room and feel sad again.'
Devastating Loss and Public Heartache
Bobby was left completely devastated when his partner Vicky Wright passed away in May 2023 at age 63 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. Vicky was the daughter of late England football captain Billy Wright and Beverley Sisters singer Joy Beverley, making her loss particularly poignant within British entertainment circles.
Following her death, Davro shared a heartfelt message expressing his profound grief, describing the situation as 'devastating'. The former EastEnders star wrote: 'It's been just over a week since my beautiful Vicky left this world and it's only now I feel strong enough to share my feelings.'
He poignantly added: 'To think we will never hear her voice, hear her laughter, look into her beautiful eyes, see her smile, hold her and kiss her is devastating and so incredibly painful. She will be in my thoughts and in my heart forever. She was my Schluffe and I loved her and always will.' Davro accompanied these words with a stunning photograph of Vicky, captioning it: 'I will miss you so very much and I will love you forever. RIP my beautiful Schluffe. No more pain darling. No more pain.'
The Show Must Go On
Remarkably, Bobby Davro returned to work just one day after Vicky's death, determined to perform through his pain rather than disappoint fans who had purchased tickets. Despite his profound grief, he took to the stage at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on May 5 to perform four shows for his friend Jim Davidson's Ustreme online comedy channel.
Davidson confirmed Bobby's appearance on his YouTube channel, praising his fellow showbiz veteran as a 'trooper' who understood that the show must go on. The former Big Break presenter said: 'We have to say goodbye to Vicky Wright. It's a sad old day. I'm down here in Wimborne at the Tivoli Theatre on the set of Ustream's Left, Right and Centre, the award-winning panel show and I'm sitting in Miles Crawford's seat and we're all a little bit quiet today.'
Health Challenges Following Tragedy
The following year brought additional health challenges for Davro, who suffered a minor stroke after collapsing during a live show in Surrey. He had just received a standing ovation at the sell-out gig before experiencing what he described as a 'funny turn'.
A source close to the comedian revealed: 'His condition has greatly improved and he's now resting at home. Clearly he's feeling much better as Bobby described his proximity to the hospital and the excellent care he received there as 'a real stroke of luck'.' This health scare came just eight months after Vicky's passing, compounding an already difficult period for the entertainer.
Through all these challenges, Bobby Davro's story highlights the complex relationship between public performance and private grief, demonstrating how the discipline of comedy can provide structure and purpose during life's darkest moments while never fully alleviating the pain of profound loss.
