Stephen Gately (1976-2009)
(
12/10/2009)
Many of you will have read of the sad death this weekend of singer, writer and actor Stephen Gately. For anyone to die at such a young age is a tragedy, but for someone like Stephen, whose professional achievements and personal life made him a role model for millions, and whose generosity and good nature were renowned throughout the profession, it seems doubly crushing.
Stephen appeared in the 2007 Big Finish audio,
Doctor Who:
Horror Of Glam Rock, where he played the young pop star Tommy Tomorrow. We were all tremendously excited when we heard that Stephen had accepted the role, and even more so when he agreed to record a new song for the story:
Children Of Tomorrow. He was so easy to work with - charming, funny, generous, modest, upbeat - and so effortlessly talented that we all came away from the experience with a spring in our step.
Over the intervening years, Stephen kept in touch with the goings-on at Big Finish and was always very supportive and positive. We were all keen on a further collaboration, but finding time in Stephen's busy schedule was a perennial stumbling block. The last communication we had was that he might have some free time after he'd completed his first novel,
The Tree of Seasons, due to be published this Christmas.
That is one of the most dreadful aspects of Stephen's death: the loss of everything that might have been. He was a hugely creative individual, bursting with ideas and talent, and with so much more to give. He will be terribly missed by everyone at Big Finish. Our thoughts are with Stephen's family and with his partner, Andrew.