Gavin and Stacey actor Mathew Horne has spoken with profound sadness about the death of a former girlfriend from leukaemia, describing the period as one of the most difficult of his life.
A Heartbreaking Loss
During an emotional conversation on broadcaster Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, the 47-year-old star revealed the tragic story. He referred to his unnamed ex-partner as an "amazing girl" and explained their unique bond. "She was a very, very dear friend," Horne told Brandreth, who is 77. "It wasn't like a sort of lustful, passionate union... We were really close friends and everybody thought that we should be together, and eventually we did."
The actor shared the devastating timeline of her illness. She was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2003, and by January 2004 she had passed away. Horne confessed that although they had parted ways romantically about a year before her death, the deep connection remained, making her loss incredibly painful.
Understanding the Disease
Leukaemia is a form of blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow, leading to the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells. These cells, known as leukaemia cells, are not fully developed and severely compromise the body's ability to fight infection, attacking the immune system itself.
Finding Love and Support
Following this profound loss, Mathew Horne eventually found happiness again. He married Celina Bassili in a beautiful ceremony held in her native Norway in 2021. Speaking on the same podcast, he credited her with being his rock during another tragic period—the death of his mother.
"It became very clear that she was the one," Horne said of his wife. "I met her about a year before my mother passed away. Then I lost my mum, and Celina stood by my side throughout what was a really wretched time. Our relationship grew and grew, and my love for her grew and grew. I just knew from that experience that I wanted to be with her forever."
Prior to his marriage to Celina, Horne was briefly engaged to Casualty actress Evelyn Hoskins in 2018. His relationship with Celina blossomed after they worked together on the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special in 2019.
By sharing his story, Mathew Horne has cast a light on the enduring pain of losing a loved one to cancer and the strength found in new beginnings.
