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Catherine Tate on her 'lovely friend' George Michael

Getty Images George Michael, who has short dark hair, a stubbly beard and dark sunglasses is looking ahead into the distance and smiling. He is wearing a black suit jacket and T-shirt and a necklace. Getty Images
Music legend George Michael died on Christmas Day 2016, aged just 53

Last 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 contacted 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?"

As well as remembering Michael, Tate said she will be glued to the finale of Gavin & Stacey this Christmas.

Tate has re-watched all three series in the build-up to the big day, after 2019's Christmas special left her in suspense when Nessa proposed to Smithy.

Before he became Gavin, actor Matthew Horne played grandson Jamie to the foul-mouthed Nan on the BBC's Catherine Tate Show.

Tate joked that the exposure may have helped Horne land the role in Gavin and Stacey, adding "you're welcome".

Tate hopes the finale will bring a resolution, as she said she wanted answers after the last Christmas special, when she told Horne "oh my God, you can't leave it like that".

Getty Images Tate and Horne at the premiere of the Nan Movie in 2022.Getty Images
Before he became Gavin, Matthew Horne played grandson Jamie to the foul-mouthed Nan on The Catherine Tate Show

Tate will be hosting Doctor Who at the Proms 2024, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, on Christmas Eve on BBC Two.

She played Donna Noble alongside David Tennant when he was the Doctor, and they both returned last year for the 60th anniversary specials.

Tate recalled the show's head writer Russell T Davies saying how great it would be to get them back together.

After going back and forth, she said she called Tennant and said "what do you reckon?"

Tennant responded by saying he would do it in a heartbeat.

"I went back to Russell and said 'he's in, let's get the band back together'. So I like to think it was down to me," Tate laughed.

She said she will always have special memories of filming Doctor Who in Cardiff and of playing Donna.

"She's in my heart, she really is. She was a character that I never really let go of. She's a proper honour to have played."

Doctor Who at the Proms 2024 is on BBC Two at 16:10 GMT on 24 December, and it will also be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales at 19:00 on Christmas Day.