He began his career in comedy on the London stand-up comedy circuit at the age of eighteen as Sir Bernard Chumley, legendary actor and raconteur - a character who was to appear later in Little Britain.

Lucas's association with Reeves and Mortimer began in 1992, when he was spotted by Bob Mortimer on stage. In 1994 Lucas appeared in The Smell Of Reeves And Mortimer . The second series of the show featured Lucas in several sketches. He went on to star with them in Shooting Stars. He quickly rose to fame as George Dawes, the giant baby, who would deliver a string of meaningless gags and insults before delivering the score. This was especially funny as many of the parts were introduced not in the style of a baby, but of a grown man - indeed, often, he would come on dressed as other things such as Elton John. He also appeared as Marjory Dawes, George's mum, who also appears in Little Britain.

Lucas' hair fell out after being knocked down by a car at the age of four. Lucas is openly gay, and based the character Daffyd Thomas on himself, recalling how he felt he was "the only gay in the village" only to find out that everyone accepted it and wasn't shocked by it.

In 2005 he took his first role in a television drama, a supporting part as a Venetian Duke in the BBC historical serial Casanova, written by Russell T. Davies.

External link

• Information about Matt Lucas on the BBC website