Peep Show star Matt King has been rushed to hospital after a freak spinal stroke left him paralysed.
The actor, best known for his role as Super Hans in the hit Channel 4 sitcom, confirmed he was recovering at the Royal Sussex County Hospital following the incident on Sunday.
Sharing a post from his hospital bed, he wrote: ‘It’s true. I had a rare stroke of the spinal cord on Sunday. I was initially paralysed but was rushed to The Royal Sussex and the staff have been amazing.
‘Can walk again, a bit. My legs were jelly, man. It didn’t feel f*****g brilliant. Thank you for all the love and kindness.’
King’s Peep Show co-star Vera Graziadei – who played Elena – asked fans to pray for him as she wrote on Instagram: ‘Peeples, let’s send some prayers and love to our dear friend and bloody brilliant actor and human – Matt @thatmattkingfella who needs it now.
‘Health issue so send your love and support to him!’
Peep Show star Matt King has been rushed to hospital after a stroke left him paralysed
Replying to King’s post, one fan wrote: ‘The fact that you had a stroke and still had the humour to joke about your legs being jelly says everything. You’re an inspiration Matt. Get well soon.’
Another commented: ‘Love and good vibes to a legend.’
A third fan again made reference to Super Hans by writing: ‘Nothing a relaxing hit of c***k can’t fix! Get well soon.’
King, 58, famously played Super Hans opposite David Mitchell and Robert Webb in Peep Show, the cult comedy created created by Andrew O’Connor, Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain.
The show followed the lives of the horrifyingly relatable flatmates Mark and Jez, played by David and Robert, using a unique point-of-view filming style.
The two friends are two polar opposite friends who met at the fictional Dartmouth University and went on to live in Mark’s flat, in the made-up Zodiac House in South London.
Mark owns the flat and frequently references Jeremy’s resistance to playing rent and his abuse of the home, thanks to his love of weed and reluctance to work.
Super Hans was a fan-favourite character, known for his hilariously wacky and drug-addled one-liners and destructive behaviour.
Before landing the part, King worked as a chef in Australia, where he met comedian Jimeoin McKeown, who encouraged him to become a stand-up.
After 15 years of working as a comic, he was discovered by the Peep Show creators at Edinburgh Fringe, who deemed him perfect for the role of Super Hans.
Though back in 2018, it was previously revealed by creator Sam that the part was originally written with Danny Dyer in mind.
The role turned King into a household name, with the actor winning subsequent parts in Skins, Doctor Who, Spirited, Paddington and The End of the F***ing World, and writing his own sitcom starring Alan Davies, Whites.
In 2019, he also starred in Sam Fender’s music video for his single Saturday, showing him doing an interpretative dance routine.
But despite being most recognised for his work on Peep Show, King revealed he often doesn’t remember many of his famous lines, that fans like to reference to him.
King famously played Super Hans opposite David Mitchell and Robert Webb in Peep Show, the cult comedy created created by Andrew O’Connor, Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain
Super Hans was a fan-favourite character, known for his hilariously wacky and drug-addled one-liners and destructive behaviour
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Peep Show’s Super Hans actor Matt King launches into tirade at fans and threatens to block them
In 2023, he shocked followers when he took to Twitter to confess he had never watched the critically acclaimed show.
He wrote: ‘Yes, sometimes I do forget things Hans said in Peep Show. Because I’ve never sat down and watched an episode. Ever.
‘Mainly cos I hate watching myself. So some of the very funny things I said TWENTY f***ing years ago, may on occasion, slip my mind.’
Poking fun at Super Hans’ famous line: ‘I’ll tell you what, that crack is really more-ish’ he added the hashtag: ‘#thiscrackisreallyaddictive’.
King recently revealed what it would take to film a Peep Show reunion, after fans called for the cast to get back together in response to a viral meme following Noel and Liam Gallagher announcing Oasis’ reunion tour.
The actor re-shared the photo of the brothers alongside one of him with David and Robert which had the caption: ‘The reunion we got versus the reunion we wanted.’
He wrote: ‘My mate just sent me this from Australia. I hate memes but this one made me smile. And seriously, I reckon Dave, Rob and myself would consider doing it if we got to split £80 million quid.’
Fans commented on Matt’s post, urging him to initiate plans for a Peep Show reunion.
Since the show came off air, David and Robert, who met at Cambridge in 1993, have gone on to enjoy life as a double act, while the latter was hit with health woes just before his Strictly Come Dancing stint in 2021 – which ended in an early departure.
Fellow stars have enjoyed equally prosperous fortunes since its conclusion, most notably Sophie Chapman actress Olivia Colman, who went on to win an Oscar in 2019.
Another headline hitter comes in Sophie Winkleman, who played Big Suze and is now a member of the Royal family through her marriage to Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent.
