MTV and Dirty Sanchez star Mike ‘Pancho’ Locke dies aged 47 - The Independent
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The MTV star Mike “Pancho” Locke has died at the age of 47, his family has confirmed.
Locke shot to fame on the MTV UK series Dirty Sanchez, which served as a Welsh incarnation of the popular MTV stunt series Jackass. Locke starred alongside Mathew Pritchard, Lee Dainton and Dan Joyce, and saw the ensemble take part in gross-out stunts involving everything from self-inflicted injuries to the eating of bugs.
In a statement published by San Portablo, the Welsh streetwear brand co-founded by Locke, they confirmed that the star had died.
“It is with profound sadness that San Portablo and the Locke family write of the passing of the father, son, brother, uncle, friend, skater, stuntman and all round goodfella Michael Richard Locke,” it read. “Affectionately known as Pancho to the world, an absolute Welsh Treasure and San Portablo King.”
The statement continued: “His brilliance we are sure will still shine through far wide high low and across the seven seas. He lived an incredible life and lit up the world with his charm.”
Dirty Sanchez ran for four series from 2003 to 2007, and the troupe took their exploits to the big screen via 2006’s Dirty Sanchez: The Movie.
Dirty Sanchez star Pritchard wrote on his Instagram: “I love you Panch, until we meet again rest in power.”
Dainton posted a carousel of images memorialising Locke, writing: “When you grow up skating with your friends you’re in your own little world. You never think about losing anyone from it. In your head those days and the people you shared them with live forever. Since hearing the news all those memories have been flooding back.”
He continued: “I can see Panch hear the laughter and remember all the best times like it was yesterday. Then it hits me that he’s gone and I still can’t believe it.”
He said one of his best memories of Locke took place at the premiere of the Dirty Sanchez spin-off series Pritchard vs Dainton, which included – without Locke’s knowledge – a montage of clips of Locke skating.
“We decided to give him his own section without telling him,” Dainton wrote. “Premiere night came and his name appeared on screen, Dean Martin’s ’That’s Amore’ kicked in and the whole cinema erupted. Panch had absolutely no idea. It was brilliant and he was made up. A newspaper wrote ‘A star was born’.”
The comedian Sando Ford also paid tribute to Locke, writing on his Instagram that he was “devastated” by the news of his death.
“People might know him from the TV stuff, but he was much more than that; he was a clever, hilarious, and loyal person,” Ford wrote. “He would … travel to open mics with me just to watch me die on my ass and laugh about it on the way home.”
A cause of death has not been released.
