Ricky Gervais pays touching tribute to beloved cat Ollie

10 March 2020, 13:26

Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon have paid tribute to their social media star cat Ollie, who died on Tuesday.

The couple shared the news on Twitter along with pictures of their pet, who died at the age of 16.

Ricky wrote: "Just had to say goodbye to the sweetest little soul I've ever known. RIP Ollie.

"July 9th 2003 - March 10th 2020."

Author Jane posted: "I have awful news. My smart, funny, feisty, beautiful sidekick of the last 16 & a half years @myleftfang has passed away after a sudden down turn in her health at the weekend.

"My heart is broken in two. I have no idea what I'm going to do without her by my side. #Ollie."

Shortly after her death was announced, "RIP Ollie" trended on Twitter.

The couple were given Ollie by Jonathan Ross on his Friday night chat show in 2003 and the cat was popular in her own right, with a Twitter account that had more than 60,000 followers.

The biography on Ollie's Twitter account, run by the couple, said that she was "3/8 BURMESE, 1/8 SIAMESE, 1/4 CORNISH REX, 1/4 DEVON REX, 1/2 ENGLISH, 1/4 FRENCH CANADIAN,1/4 IRISH & 100% CAT!"

The social media page was full of pictures of her along with humorous captions written in the style of a cat.

Twitter users were quick to pay tribute to the pet, with one writing: "Oh, Ricky. Sending you and Jane all of our love today. She was the luckiest and prettiest girl."

Another said: "Oh, I’m so sorry Ricky. My thought are with you and @JaneFallon."

"I am heartbroken for your and Jane’s loss. I think we all felt like we knew her and definitely loved her. Run free Ollie over the rainbow bridge; she will watch over her My Dad and My Mum," commented another fan.

Referencing their podcast, in which Ollie regularly featured, someone said: "Felt we got to know her a bit through your podcast and radio work and through Facebook. A sad day. RIP Ollie."