Mike Locke, better known as Pancho, a star of the cult MTV show Dirty Sanchez, has died at the age of 47. The former stuntman and skateboarder found fame on the stunt and prank programme alongside Matthew Pritchard, Lee Dainton and Dan Joyce.
In the past decade, he had found success backing the San Portablo clothing brand alongside his friend and founder, Nigel Hunt. The news of his passing was shared via San Portablo's Instagram on Friday morning, November 6, where the brand paid tribute to "an absolute Welsh treasure" and "all round Goodfella" who "lit up the world with his charm."
A Passionate Voice for Port Talbot
WalesOnline spoke to Mike earlier in 2026, alongside San Portablo founder and close friend Nigel, who set up the clothes brand after losing his job at the nearby steelworks. Mike spoke passionately about their town and why he was proud of San Portablo and what it meant to their hometown.
Mike said at the time: "It's the key to celebrating us, and the town and not being seen as this pass-through town that's hiding in the shadow of the steelworks. It's really tragic what's happened to the steelworks. My heart goes out to all the people who lost their jobs there, but at this moment in time the town is shining bright, and it's moving through a cultural phenomenon really."
A Growing Brand Legacy
Starting out with a stall in the middle of Aberavon Shopping Centre, San Portablo now has a permanent shop in the centre plus one at Cardiff Airport. The brand counts Fontaines DC and Michael Sheen amongst its fans, and 2026 marks a decade in business for the company.
