After years of being out of the spotlight, Tony Slattery's confession about being addicted to drugs and alcohol brought him back into the spotlight in 2019.

It marked the beginning of a comeback for the comedian, who was once one of the most prolific faces on TV. He performed Fringe Festival that year with a show called Slattery Will Get you Nowhere, and he was on my must see list.

Anyone who saw his interview shortly beforehand could see he still had issues, but he was determined to take himself to Edinburgh - something of a mecca for all comedians.

The Tony that stepped on stage for his own show was not the same comedian from BBC, Channel 4 and films such as Peter's Friends.

Looking older than his years, he was only 59 at the time, he was visibly nervous - mind you the BBC were also filming the show for his Horizon special, What's the Mater With Tony Slattery?, so that was understandable.

In his heyday he had been a heartthrob but now he was your cuddly elderly uncle. He had been on TV but it was still somewhat shocking to see this once vibrant and energetic man look so jaded.

Sadly, he had clearly had a drink before going on for his "an audience with" format hosted by comedy historian Robert Ross, who was very supportive towards him.

Given his heartfelt soul bearing about the fact drink and drugs had destroyed his life (at one point he spent £4,000 a weeek on cocaine) this was heartbreaking to me. But given how, as a self confessed addict, he had been thrust back into the spotlight maybe that was unsurprising. He probably needed it to cope.

I did find it somewhat sad and tragic. Having admitted the damage addiction had done to his life, it seemed he just couldn't quit that final substance. Perhaps it helped. I can only imagine how overwhelming this renewed interest in him must have been.

After a few shaky minutes he settled into the show and by the end had gone rogue and was out of his seat and recreating some of his famous moments on the Channel 4 show and sharing moments that didn't make it to screen. It was honestly the funniest show I saw at Fringe that year and judging by the laughter of the other people in the audience, I wasn't alone in my thinking.

However, there were constant reminders of his somewhat dire straits (he had gone bankrupt at one point). Not far away his contempories were playing bigger venues and heading home to their mortgage free houses.

Tony was candid about the fact he had lost more or less everything. He was selling badges and signed photos at the show - merch isn't unusual but it felt a bit tragic.

There was a huge amount of love for him, reflected in the audiences he drew on that run, and talking to him afterwards it was clear he was a bit overcome by the love for him. It was as if he thought no one would remember him.

There was something very poignant about the fact he couldn't do the show or talk to people without having a drink. He had a wine to hand post show as he chatted to me.

I was supposed to see him in Belfast later that year but work commitments dictated otherwise and months later the world shut down for two years. Once things opened up again life conspired to ensure I wouldn't meet him again but I was hopeful of seeing him in Edinburgh this year, which now, sadly won't happen.

Following his death Stephen Fry said he was emerging the other side at last commenting "A cruel irony that fate should snatch him from us just as he had really begun to emerge from his lifelong battle with so many dark demons.

"He had started live 'evenings with' and his own podcast series. Lovely, at least, this past year for him to have found to his joyous surprise that he was still remembered and held in great affection."

I would like to think this was where he was at in his life when he died. I would like to think he had conquered his demons and was on the up.

Certainly he seemed to have finally found his stride and settled into his refound stardom. I hope he knew he was loved by fans who had no agenda other than wanting to a laugh at his perfomance.