British television and stand-up comedian Matt Lucas (R) and his ex-partner Kevin McGee pose for photographers following their civil partnership ceremony in central London in this December 17, 2006 file photo. Lucas has pulled out of a West End play after McGee killed himself, reportedly hours after posting a message on Facebook saying Kevin McGee thinks that death is much better than life. REUTERS/Toby Melville

British comedian Matt Lucas has pulled out of a West End play after his ex-partner killed himself, reportedly hours after posting a message on Facebook saying Kevin McGee thinks that death is much better than life.

Lucas, best known for his role in the popular television comedy Little Britain, has put his appearances in the London production of Prick Up Your Ears on hold until further notice, producers said in a statement on Tuesday.

Our thoughts are with Matt whom we are in constant touch with, the statement read.

Until further notice, his role of Kenneth Halliwell in the West End production of Prick Up Your Ears will be played by his understudy Michael Chadwick.

Lucas, 35, and TV producer McGee, 32, married in 2006 but broke up in 2008 in what was described at the time as the first celebrity gay couple to separate since Britain introduced civil partnerships for same-sex couples in 2005.

According to British media, McGee was found hanged at his apartment in Edinburgh on Monday.

Police were called to an address in Bruntsfield Gardens around 8 a.m. yesterday morning, where a 32-year-old man was found dead, police said in a statement.

There are no suspicious circumstances.

Lucas has been playing Kenneth Halliwell in Prick Up Your Ears, based on the true story of how playwright Joe Orton was murdered in 1967 by his lover Halliwell, who then committed suicide.

The actor was utterly destroyed by McGee's death, according to the Sun tabloid which first broke the story.

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