Sean Hughes’ £4 million estate has been awarded to the homelessness charity Shelter.
Nearly a decade after the comic’s death, the deal comes after a High Court ruling over the interpretation of his homemade will.
The British-born Irish comedian, who died aged 51 in 2017 from a heart attack and late-stage liver disease, left behind a portfolio of property assets including his £1.8 million north London home and two further houses valued at £1.5 million and £650,000.
Sean had expressed his intention to leave “my three houses to Shelter” in a will drafted without legal assistance using an online platform.
But ambiguity arose because only one property was held in his name, while the other two were owned through a company in which Sean was the sole shareholder.
The matter was referred to the High Court to determine how the estate should be distributed, despite agreement between Sean’s brothers, Alan Hughes and Martin Hughes, and the charity on the intended outcome.
According to the Daily Mail, presiding judge Master Iain Pester concluded the “correct construction of the will” was that the shares in the company – and therefore the two additional properties – should be transferred to Shelter.
Barrister Aidan Briggs, representing the executor of the will, and Alexander Learmonth, representing Shelter, told the court both the family and the charity agreed Shelter was the intended beneficiary of the estate.
Andy Harris, Shelter’s director of income generation, said: “Sean Hughes was a passionate supporter of Shelter's work, and we are enormously grateful for the generous gift left in his will.
“We have worked closely with Sean's family to ensure his wishes are honoured.
“Gifts left in wills are a vital source of income for Shelter.
“This donation will enable us to continue to deliver expert support and advice to people impacted by the housing emergency and to campaign for everyone's right to a safe and secure home.”
Sean rose to prominence in the alternative comedy scene during the 1980s, first appearing at the Comedy Store in 1987. He went on to win the Perrier Comedy Award in 1990 for his show A One-Night Stand with Sean Hughes, aged 24, before moving into television with Channel 4’s Sean’s Show, which ran from 1992.
Sean later became a team captain on the BBC music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 1996, appearing in 91 episodes across 10 series.
