Bob Mortimer Honors Friend Chris Rea, Driving Home Singer

Bob Mortimer Honors Friend Chris Rea, Driving Home Singer

Comedian Bob Mortimer has shared a heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend, legendary British singer‑songwriter Chris Rea , following Rea’s death at the age of 74 .  Rea, best known for the enduring holiday classic Driving Home for Christmas , died peacefully in hospital on 22 December 2025 after a short illness, a statement from his family confirmed.  He was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing. Mortimer, 66, who like Rea hails from Middlesbrough , took to social media to honor the musician’s life and legacy.  In his message on X , Mortimer described Rea as a “lovely, brilliant funny giant of a bloke,” calling him a “ Boro legend forever” and sending love to Rea’s family and friends. The pair shared a deep friendship that stretched across decades. In 1997, they collaborated on a version of Let’s Dance for Middlesbrough FC ’s FA Cup final , and Rea even appeared in a 2020 Christmas special of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing .  Mortimer also fondly recalled a humorous story fr…