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
BBC News
17 minutes ago
- BBC News
Actor arrested by police on set of TV show Rivals
An actor has been arrested on a set while filming the TV show Rivals, the BBC Adams, 45, was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, where he was filming a scene for the TV Adams, of Locking in North Somerset, is accused of assaulting a woman at an address in Weston-super-Mare on 31 May and appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on 6 June. He was released on conditional bail and is due to attend Bristol Crown Court on 7 July.A spokesperson for Happy Prince, the production company for Rivals, said: "On 4 June, the police visited the set regarding an unrelated matter involving a supporting artist." Rivals is a Disney+ show, starring David Tennant, Danny Dyer and Emily Atack and based on the Jilly Cooper production company added: "Production co-operated with the police. We do not have any further information as it is not connected to Rivals or to our production."
Scottish Sun
18 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Love Island fans call Islander a ‘red flag' as he makes shock dating admission
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island fans are raising red flags after new Islander Connor Phillips made a jaw-dropping dating confession. The pro rugby-playing Irishman, 25, admitted he's only had one relationship experience - and fans argue it doesn't even count. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Connor makes a surprising confession Credit: ITV 5 Helena cannot believe what she is hearing Credit: ITV Helena Ford chose to couple up with Connor in the first episode of Love Island 2025, after reading just his dating profile. As the pair got to know each other, Connor's lack of relationships raised alarms for Helena and viewers watching. Connor confessed: "To be honest, yeah, I've only had one girlfriend." Helena asked: "How long was that?" Connor replied: "I'd say, like, eight weeks." Helena couldn't resist laughing in his face, then asking: "How did it last eight weeks?" He added: "We were seeing each other for a while, but she was only my girlfriend for eight weeks. "And I think it's been two years since then, and I've grown a lot. So yeah, I feel like I'm kind of a bit ready now." But fans think this is a major red flag and it sparked a frenzy on X (formerly Twitter) as one said: "EIGHT WEEKS?? Oh Connor". Another added: "Only my girlfriend for 8 weeks". Love Island's TWO hunky new bombshells REVEALED A third penned: "Babe that does not count as a relationship #loveisland". Also in the episode, Conor's said he is looking for "someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic. I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman". When it comes to turn offs, he added: "Being too needy, or needing to do everything together. "I like someone to be independent and do their own thing and then we come together and do our thing." However, Connor broke the show rules before he even entered the villa, after he'd revealed he sought advice from past winner Greg O'Shea. Islanders are forbidden from revealing their involvement in the series before it starts. Fellow Irish rugby player Greg, 30, won series five alongside Amber Gill. Conor shared: "I know Greg through rugby circles so I spoke to him about going on Love Island. "He just said 'be yourself, it's a really really really cool experience that not many people get. "So enjoy it and yeah take it day by day and if you can be yourself you can't really go too far wrong'. "So that's my plan. He was like 'my advice might be a bit different from others because I won'." He added: "I'm 25 and I've only had one relationship and it wasn't very long. "So I feel like I'm maybe doing something wrong or maybe I'm not in the right places. "So, hopefully this is the right place, and it should be, you know, because you're in a lovely villa surrounded by beautiful people, so I'm hoping that this is the one." 5 Connor is currently coupled up with blonde beauty Helena Credit: ITV 5 Conor's said he is looking for "someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic" Credit: ITV
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
King Charles heart-breaking last words to Prince Philip hours before his death
King Charles once revealed the poignant and emotional last conversation he had with his father Prince Philip just hours before he died. Philip, who was born on this day in 1921, passed away in 2021 at the age of 99, seeing out his final peaceful days surrounded by his family in Windsor Castle. In a BBC documentary film celebrating the life of the late royal, King Charles reminisced on the last conversation he had with his father the day before he died, highlighting his quick wit and cheeky sense of humour. During the intimate interview, Charles recalled how he gently broached the subject of Philip's upcoming 100th birthday and suggested a party, knowing it was something his dad was not that excited about. Knowing his elderly father was hard of hearing, he clarified what he was talking about as he spoke loudly to Prince Philip, emphasising: 'We're talking about your birthday! And whether there's going to be a reception!' To which Charles said Philip replied sharply, without missing a beat: "Well, I've got to be alive for it, haven't I?" Charles then said: "I told him 'I knew you'd say that!'" Despite Philip's morbid sense of humour and candid comments about his morality, King Charles said the conversation made for an unforgettable and happy memory with his dad. According to royal expert Katie Nicholl and her 2022 book, The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown, the father and son shared another touching moment before his death in April 2021. Nicholl said that it was during one of their last visits together that Philip made a special request of the heir, as she wrote: "Charles got time with his father as well and Philip told him, 'Whatever you do, promise me you will take care of your mother.' Charles was very emotional.'" Following Philip's death, then-Prince Charles paid a loving tribute to his father, telling reporters outside his Gloucestershire estate of Highgrove: "As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously." He described his father as "a much-loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also, I think, share our loss and our sorrow". He said: "My dear papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time." In the days after his death, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, also spoke to parishioners outside a church service, making her own comments about the death of Prince Philip, while assuring the congregation that the royal passed away peacefully. She told the members of the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge in Windsor: 'It was right for him. It was so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went. Very, very peaceful and that's all you want for somebody isn't it? So, I think it's so much easier for the person that goes than the people that are left behind.' Today marks what would've been Prince Philip's 104th birthday, with the royal born on June 10th 1921 in Corfu, Greece. In February 1947, Philip took his mother's maiden name of Mountbatten while renouncing his rights to the Greek and Danish throne. In November the same year, Prince Philip married Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, with the royal couple going on to have four children: King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Or sign up to the to get all the biggest royal news and exclusive pictures, straight to your inbox.
