Channel 4 will show a repeat of Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years And A Lovely Bit Of Squirrel tonight, which celebrates 10 years of the popular sitcom.
The documentary takes a look back at the funny scenes of the eccentric Goodman family and their bizarre neighbour Jim.
Friday Night Dinner began back in 2012 with a cast including Paul Ritter as dad Martin, Tamsin Greig as Jackie, Simon Bird as son Adam, Tom Rosenthal as Johnny and Mark Heap as neighbour Jim.
The celebratory documentary features behind-the-scenes material and never-aired outtakes as the cast pay their respects to actor Paul, who passed away last year.
But how did Paul die and was he really deaf in real life?
Here's everything you need to know.
How did Paul Ritter die?
Friday Night Dinner actor Paul died of a brain tumour on April 5 2021, aged 54.
He passed away in his home, surrounded by his family.
His agent confirmed his death via a statement that read: “It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away last night.
“He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side. He was 54 and had been suffering from a brain tumour.
“Paul was an exceptionally talented actor playing an enormous variety of roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill. He was fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny. We will miss him greatly.”
The actor kept his illness private before his death last year.
At the time of Paul's death, Inbetweeners and Friday Night Dinner actor Simon Bird paid respects to his on-screen dad.
He said in a heartfelt statement: “Not even going to touch the acting. That goes without saying. He was the best in the business.
“What’s less well known is that he was also the Platonic ideal of a green room companion: unfailingly generous (with praise, snacks, the Guardian Sport section); unendingly thoughtful (he would set up shop on the floor if he knew there were going to be more actors than chairs in that day); and undeniably cool (calm and collected in his flat cap, but an absolute coiled spring if there was a game in the offing).”
His tribute continued: “He was such a peaceful presence but throbbing with intelligence and – let’s not beat around the bush – entirely capable of a hilariously indiscreet and filthy broadside when in the mood.
“I think I’ll always aspire to be like Paul. I guess that’ll happen when someone pretends to be your Dad for 10 years. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have spent so much time in that green room and hope his real bambinos know how much his fake bambinos loved and looked up to him.”
Was Paul Ritter deaf?
In Friday Night Dinner, Martin (played by Paul) is hard of hearing and wears a hearing aid.
However, the actor was not deaf in real life.
In the show, Martin often used his deafness to get out of doing what his wife Jackie asked of him.
Actress Tracy Ann Oberman, who portrays Auntie Val, describes Martin in vivid detail in the 10-year special.
She said: “Martin is slightly deaf, he doesn't like wearing clothes, he loves his shed, he's a little bit dirty, he’s utterly dysfunctional yet brilliant.”
*Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and a Lovely Bit of Squirrel will be available to watch tonight at 10.35pm on Channel 4 and All 4.
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