They were the faces behind one of the biggest comedies of the 2000s.
And Matt Lucas and David Walliams were seen together for the first time since 2011 at Dale Winton’s funeral on Tuesday, joining a slew of celebrities in attendance at the humanist service in London to honour the late TV presenter.
David, 46, and Matt, 44, were seen almost face-to-face as they both arrived at the service, amid ongoing reports of a feud that ended the Little Britain pair’s partnership after almost a decade of working together.
In his autobiography, Matt revealed how tensions boiled between the pair in 2005 during their Little Britain Live tour, leading to a spectacular backstage fight.
Back together: Matt Lucas and David Walliams were seen together for the first time in seven years on Tuesday, as they both joined a slew of celebrities attending Dale Winton’s funeral
Catching up? The pair appeared to exchange the briefest of pleasantries before heading into the service
Over: Matt said in his autobiography last year that he and David (above) were at odds as far back as 2005, when they fell out while working on Little Britain: The Tour
Matt was also noticeably absent when Walliams received his OBE last October.
Lucas, 43, released his autobiography Little Me: The A-Z Of Matt Lucas the same month in which he uncovered their explosive backstage fights as well the manic performances that made them, briefly, the most celebrated comedy duo in the country.
In the tome he snipes: ‘Walliams has now sold so many children’s books he can probably buy his own private jet, all decked out in pink, with a river inside it for him to swim up’ — a swipe at the fame Walliams acquired when he swam the Channel and, later on, the length of the Thames.
Tensions between the pair are believed to have escalated during the Little Britain Live tour in 2005, when the two men demanded separate dressing rooms but found they had to prepare together before every show, just to cope with all the technical issues each night.
Disputes started over trivial matters , such as Walliams’s insistence that jumbo packs of Maltesers should be provided by the promoter at every venue. Lucas said.
Lucas, a connoisseur of cheap chocolate, objected —there were much better choices than Maltesers, he felt.
David Walliams and other mourners leave the church in Marylebone. Guests said it was ‘a good send-off’
Matt Lucas left the service, at which Winton’s close friend Dame Barbara Windsor could not be present
The coffin of TV presenter Dale Winton, who was found dead at his home in north London last month, is carried into a memorial service in his memory this afternoon
Legendary: The pair were both seen in attendance for the humanist ceremony in honour of the late TV presenter Dale, who was found dead in his home last month
David Walliams hugs another mourner as celebrities leave the funeral of Dale Winton in central London
Mr Winton’s family and godsons walked behind the coffin into the church shortly after 1pm
Old hands: Fans will most remember the pair’s work in the BBC sketch series Little Britain, which ran from 2003 and 2005, and sparked nationwide tours and a US spin-off series
No more: David said in 2012 that he didn’t see him and Matt working together anytime soon, as they reportedly fell out again in 2007 working on the Australian tour
David Walliams gave a reading at the service, as well as former EastEnders star Martine McCutcheon
David and Matt have not worked together since their airport satire series Come Fly With Me in 2010, and while BBC commissioned a second series, David confirmed in 2013 there were no future episodes in the pipeline.
David and Matt first met in The National Youth Theatre, and broke onto the comedy scene with the sketch series Little Britain in 2003.
The series – famously narrated by Doctor Who star Tom Baker – created iconic characters such as Andy and Lou (with the catchphrase ‘I don’t like it), Vicky Pollard (‘Yeah but no yeah but no but’) and Carol Beer (‘Computer says no’).
Former Brookside actress Claire Sweeney was among a number of celebrity performers at the ‘non-religious’ ceremony
Former football player and manager Greame Souness – who struck up an unlikely friendship with Dale – was at the ceremony
Left: Journalist-turned-TV presenter Matthew Wright. Right: Former football star Greame Souness
Mark and Sarah Linsey, friends of Mr Winton, whose friendship he described as ‘one of the richest relationships in my life’
Over: Matt and David last worked together in 2010 on the airport satire series Come Fly With Me, amid ongoing rumours of a feud between the pair
After three series the show concluded in 2005, but sparked a US spin-off three years later and numerous one-off specials for Comic and Sport Relief.
But is was around the shows conclusion that tensions first reportedly began to bubble between the pair, as Matt described in his autobiography.
Cabin fever began to set in, with things finally boiling over in Oxford a few nights before a Comic Relief special, and while the pair reconciled a similar bust-up at the end of the Australian tour in 2007 severed ties further.
David and Matt worked together again on Come Fly With Me in 2011, but the severed their partnership for good.
The Britain’s Got Talent judge previously spoke about their disputes whilst promoting his own autobiography, Camp David in 2012.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Mark Lawson he admitted: ‘We’re very different people and probably want different things and had different working methods.’
Winton was found dead at his home in north London on April 18. Following his death, Walliams described him as ‘the best company, always outrageous & hilarious’, adding: ‘He adored being in show business & loved meeting fans.’
A bouquet of white roses has been laid outside the former residence of Mr Winton, who died last month
Comedian Matt Lucas is seen leaving the service while Martine McCutcheon hugs another mourner after the service
Lee Ryan, Anthony Costa and Duncan James from the boyband Blue leave the service after performing to the congregation
Comedian Matt Lucas was also at the service, as well as Piers Morgan. Dale regularly appeared on Matt Lucas’ BBC comedy show Come Fly with Me
A beautiful display of white roses was placed on the coffin as it was carried into the church ahead of the memorial service
Claire Sweeney – who sang Cilla Black’s classic Alfie – arrived for the service with panto star Christopher Biggins
Martine McCutcheon read What Should Life Be? at the service. Vanessa Feltz (right) arrived with her partner Ben Ofoedu
Gaby Roslin was among the host of famous faces at the funeral, at which Jon Culshaw did an impression of Winton
Humanist funerals are described as a way of giving a fitting tribute to people who have lived without religion
Gloria Hunniford was among the celebrities at a ‘non-religious’ humanist memorial service for TV legend Dale Winton
Duncan James and Simon Webbe were seen arriving. The group Blue performed their hit One Love at the service
Former Eastenders star Martine McCutcheon will read at the service, while Claire Sweeney and boy band Blue will perform
When asked whether his use of past tense implied the partnership is finished, David added: ‘Well, it’s over for the time being. Whether it’s over for ever I don’t know. But Matt wanted to go off and do his own thing, he wanted to be himself on a show, he wanted to do The Matt Lucas Awards and that’s why at the moment we are not doing things together.
‘Whether we will in the future, I don’t know. I certainly hope so. But for the moment I’m enjoying my freedom.’
Since their split David has gone onto land a spot on the Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 – and has remained ever since – alongside publishing ten children’s books, and was awarded an OBE last year for services to charity and the arts.
Meanwhile Matt went onto land a regular role as Nardole opposite Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who in 2015, as well as plenty of TV guest appearances.
Veteran radio DJ Tony Blackburn and journalist Garry Bushell joined other famous faces at the ceremony
Winton’s white coffin, covered in a huge display of white roses, was carried into the church by pall-bearers this afternoon
Happier times: Since their last show together Matt (above in 2011) went onto land a slew of TV acting roles while David has been a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012
Other celebrity guests who said goodbye to Dale included Piers Morgan, Gloria Hunniford, Martine McCutcheon and Christopher Biggins, with close friend David paying tribute to Dale after he was found dead in his home last month.
Speaking about his friend, the comedian said he was ‘the best company, always outrageous & hilarious’, adding: ‘He adored being in show business & loved meeting fans.’
Sporting all-black funeral attire and despite being within centimetres of each other, David and Matt appeared to exchange the briefest of pleasantries before heading into the service, on what would have been Dale’s 63rd birthday.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for David Walliams and Matt Lucas for more information.