Bob Mortimer pays heartfelt tribute to 'brilliant' Chris Rea following singer's death days before Christmas

Mr Rea's family confirmed the singer died peacefully in hospital after a brief illness, with his loved ones by his side.

The Driving Home for Christmas artist's passing came just three days before the festive holiday his signature song has become synonymous with.

Mr Mortimer was among the first public figures to pay tribute to the Middlesbrough-born musician, whose death prompted an outpouring of grief from across the entertainment industry.

The two men forged a lasting bond through their shared roots in the North East of England, with both hailing from Middlesbrough and sharing a passion for the town's football club.

Their friendship extended into musical collaboration when, in 1997, they joined forces to record a special version of Rea's track Let's Dance to mark Middlesbrough FC's appearance in the FA Cup final.

Mr Mortimer reworked the lyrics to give the song a football-themed twist, and the single went on to reach number 44 in the UK charts.

The pair's connection to their hometown remained a defining feature of their relationship, with Mr Mortimer describing Rea as a "Boro legend" in his tribute post.

Mr Mortimer delighted fans with a particularly memorable appearance on Would I Lie to You?, during which he spun a tale about cracking an egg into his bath on Mr Rea's recommendation.

Following the broadcast, Mr Rea sent the comedian photographic evidence of himself in a bubble bath clutching an egg, playing along with the joke.

Mr Mortimer shared this image alongside his tribute, prompting fans to recirculate the beloved moment in the wake of the singer's death.

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The friends reunited on screen in 2020 when Rea appeared in a Christmas special of Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

Filmed in his hometown of Middlesbrough, the episode saw Mr Rea open up about his lengthy battle with serious health problems, including pancreatic cancer and a stroke, while speaking fondly of his wife Joan.

Middlesbrough FC honoured their famous supporter, posting on X: "We're deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Rea. A Teesside icon. Rest in peace, Chris."

Television personality Lizzie Cundy, who starred in the 2009 music video for "Driving Home for Christmas", described working with Rea as "an honour" and called him "an inspiration and legend".

So so sad.A lovely brilliant funny giant of a bloke. Oh Man....RIP Chris .. Boro legend forever. Love to family and friends. pic.twitter.com/jWPuKUGzUi

— bob mortimer (@RealBobMortimer) December 22, 2025

Presenter Timmy Mallett revealed he purchased Rea's former home in 1991, noting that a Christmas message spray-painted by the singer's daughters remains on the garage wall to this day.

Rea rose to prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s with hits including the Grammy-nominated Fool (If You Think It's Over) and The Road To Hell.

His festive classic, first released in 1986, generates an estimated £200,000 annually in royalties and has earned over £7 million in total.