Catherine Tate on her 'lovely friend' George Michael
Getty ImagesLast Christmas by Wham! is a nostalgic song for many, but for comedian Catherine Tate, it brings back poignant memories of her friend, superstar George Michael.
The unexpected friendship grew nearly 20 years ago, when Michael told Tate he was a big fan of hers and invited her to one of his concerts.
"He's someone I hold very dear in my heart, especially around Christmas time," she told Lucy Owen on BBC Radio Wales,
Michael - whose real name was Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou - died aged 53 on Christmas Day in 2016, but his legacy lives on, with Last Christmas making the UK's Christmas number 1 for the second year in a row.
Tate said Christmas always reminded her of Michael, who shot to fame in the 1980s with Wham! before becoming an even bigger star as a solo artist.
She said Michael used to watch her show when he was warming up to go on stage.
One day, Tate said Michael ed her to say he was a big fan and the friendship blossomed from there.
"He was really fun, amazing, lovely, wonderful, wonderful being," said Tate.
Tate recalled a concert Michael put on for the NHS staff who had looked after his mum, Lesley, who died of cancer in 1997.
"He was so grateful to them that he put on this free concert and tickets were put out in a ballot," added Tate.
He asked Tate to introduce him on stage as one of her characters, Nurse Bernie.
"That was a magical moment, and we became friends," Tate said, "And then I said, will you come and do a sketch with me as well"Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor regenerating. He is holding his hands up in the air and looking at them as light comes out from them and shooting upwards. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/>
