Warwick Davis says woman who helped him find love again is like comedy character
Actor Warwick Davis has said the woman who helped him 'find love again' reminds him of a comedy character played by Daisy May Cooper.
While receiving his Bafta Fellowship award, the 55-year old star of the Harry Potter and Star Wars film franchises thanked an anonymous woman called 'Sponge' for their help after his wife, Samantha Davis, died last year.
Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, Davis said the woman reminded him of Cooper – who was also on the ITV talk show – playing Kerry Mucklowe in the BBC's Cotswolds-set series This Country.
Davis referenced the name sometimes given to Harry Potter antagonist Lord Voldemort – He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named – to avoid identifying the mystery woman.
He said: 'I can reveal, sticking with the Harry Potter theme, Sponge is indeed She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
'Sponge very much reminds me of Kerry. Some of the things she says and her accent.'
Kerry is a character created and played by Cooper in mockumentary series This Country, which follows the lives of two cousins in a small village in the West Country.
Cooper and her brother Charlie won Baftas for the series, including for their acting performances.
Davis rose to fame as an 11-year old after being cast as an Ewok in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi.
He later starred in Willow, Leprechaun and Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy before being cast as charms teacher Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter series.
Davis was awarded the Bafta Fellowship in February, which is described by the academy as the 'highest accolade Bafta can bestow on any one figure, recognising an exceptional contribution to film, television or games'.
He gave an emotional speech referencing his late wife, who died last March, aged 53, and their two surviving children.
He told Ross how 'supportive' his wife was, saying she always encouraged him despite the difficult hours that came with the job.
The couple co-founded dwarfism charity Little People UK, which helps provide 'friendship and financial support and guidance' to people with the condition and their families and friends.
In his Bafta speech, Davis said: 'I'd like to dedicate and thank my wonderful wife Sammy who died almost a year ago.
'She was always so supportive of my career, encouraged me to grab every opportunity with both hands.
'Since then life has been pretty tough for me but thanks to the support of our wonderful children, Annabelle and Harrison, I have been able to continue working and engaging in life.
'Special mention too should go to 'Sponge', you know who you are. Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and for helping me to laugh and love again.'
The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.20pm on ITV and ITVX.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
29 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Wynne Evans shares full video 'BBC wouldn't let him publish' after 'grope'
Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Wynne Evans has posted a video that he claims the BBC wouldn't let him share in full amid a scandal on the show last year. It comes following his departure from the BBC in recent weeks. The video shows Wynne and Katya Jones backstage after a scene in which he had moved his hand over her waist on the show. Wynne wrote: "The video that was too long for @bbcstrictly @bbccymruwales I think this tells it as it was."
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Winners of Race Across The World 2025 crowned
Four teams in the 14,100km (8,761-mile) race successfully crossed Asia, the world's largest continent, to make it to the finish line. Caroline and Tom with the check-in book (BBC/Studio Lambert) During Wednesday's episode, Caroline and Tom had to find Vattakottai Fort where the final sign-in book was waiting. After turning the page to discover they were the first team to make it to the landmark they hugged, overcome with emotion. Writing their names in the book, Tom said: 'That's a really good feeling, I'm lost for words, I can't believe it. 'Fifty-one days racing through countries I never thought I'd go to. 'I never thought we'd come this far, I never thought we'd achieve so much and I've never been prouder of my mum – she got me through it.' Sisters Elizabeth and Letitia came second, just 19 minutes behind the winners, with teenage couple Fin and Sioned third. Brothers Brian and Melvyn arrived in fourth place, three hours and five minutes behind Caroline and Tom. Winning pair Tom and Caroline (BBC/Studio Lambert) The winning pair began the last leg in the lead, six hours and 54 minutes ahead of Elizabeth and Letitia. They started from the seventh checkpoint, Panaji in Goa with just over 1,000km (600 miles) to traverse across the southern Indian states to reach the finish line. Reflecting on their win, Tom said the race was 'the best experience of my life'. Caroline said: 'We've learnt so much, we've enjoyed it and to actually win it as well as to have the experience is the best thing that could have happened to us.' The contestants traversed areas of China, Nepal and India, covering more than 14,000km over 51 days. The teams will reunite for a special episode airing at 9pm on Wednesday June 18 on BBC One where they will reflect on the race and the impact it has had on their lives. All eight episodes of Race Across The World are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Race Across The World winners revealed as pair admit they failed to keep BBC show victory secret
IT was a tense sprint to the finish line in tonight's finale of Race Across The World. The final episode followed the pairs travelling from Goa, India, to the southernmost tip of India, Kanniyakumari, 1000km away. 3 The final four pairs were whittled down to one Credit: BBC 3 Caroline and Tom were crowned winners of the show Credit: BBC But after a 51-day cross-continent race, it was mother and son duo Caroline and Tom who took home the £20,000 prize. The pair, who were leading the race from its fifth episode earlier this month, beat brothers Melvyn and Brian, sisters Elizabeth and Letitia and young couple Fin and Sioned to the finish point. And it was an emotional moment for the duo, as mum Caroline broke down in tears on the big reveal that the all-important guest book was empty on their arrival. Celebrating their win, Caroline broke down in tears in emotional scenes, telling her son: 'We must never doubt ourselves, ever, ever, ever again.' Tom added: "I'm lost for words, I can't believe it. "Fifty one days racing through countries I never thought I'd go to. "I never thought we'd come this far, I never thought we'd achieve so much, and I've never been prouder of my mum – she got me through it.' Caroline and Tom were closely followed by sisters Elizabeth and Letitia, who arrived at the finish line just shy of 20 minutes later. Forty five minutes behind the winners, Fin and Sioned arrived in third place, while brothers Brian and Melvyn took a further three hours to reach the end. On their way home from the series, the duo revealed that while they had sworn themselves to secrecy about winning the cash, it didn't take long to spill the beans. Race Across The World pays heartbreaking tribute to show star Sam Gardiner after tragic death age 24 Caroline revealed: '[We told] my husband, in the car on the way home - we couldn't hide it!' Tom added: 'We had made a pact on the plane not to tell anybody, but within minutes of seeing him we let that one go, it was so hard to keep it in.' However, the mother and son duo still haven't decided what they're going to do with the cash. Tom concluded: "I haven't really thought about what I'm doing with the money yet. "I don't want to be stupid and waste it. Mum and I want to go backpacking again, so some of it will be used for that." The reunion episode of Race Across The World airs June 18 at 9pm on BBC One and you can catch up on all episodes on BBC iPlayer.
