22/12/2025
The Driving Home for Christmas singer has sadly died aged 74. Fans of Would I Lie to You? are paying tribute to musician Chris Rea in an unusual and affectionate way following news of his death earlier today. A spokesperson for his family confirmed he died in hospital following a short illness.
The Middlesbrough-born musician had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001, and in 2016 he suffered a stroke. Rea first found success in the late Seventies and Eighties with hits including Fool (If You Think It’s Over), Let’s Dance and The Road To Hell.
A statement from his family to the Press Association said: “Singer/songwriter and guitarist, Chris Rea passed away earlier today in hospital following a short illness. A statement on behalf of his wife and two children was released to the media this afternoon.
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Tributes have poured in on social media, with many referencing a memorable tale told by Bob Mortimer on Would I Lie to You? — a story that ultimately turned out to be a lie, but left viewers in hysterics.
Mortimer’s outlandish (and entirely invented) account of Chris Rea cracking an egg into Bob’s bath after recording Middlesbrough’s 1997 FA Cup Final song went viral, with fans describing it as one of the funniest moments the show has ever produced.
The pair were close friends, and Mortimer spun a convincing yarn about Chris advising him to take a bath — before quietly adding an egg to it. Asked what the thinking was behind it, Bob said: “I've never found out. All I know is I woke up the next day and I have never felt so alive.”
Despite persuading David Mitchell’s team that the incident had really happened, it was eventually revealed that Mortimer had made the whole story up.
Now, many fans have taken to social media to say they will be “cracking an egg” in their bath tonight as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the legendary singer.
One fan wrote: “RIP Chris Rea. Popping an egg into the bath tonight.”
Another added: “Popping an egg in the bath tonight in honour of Chris Rea.”
A third commented: “Now he'll never get to pop an egg in Bob Mortimer's bath.”
Another tribute read: “Very sad news on the passing of Chris Rea, who left a huge musical legacy, but will forever be remembered in my mind for popping an egg into Bob Mortimer’s bath.”
Rea’s debut album Whatever Happened To Benny Santini? — a nod to the stage name his label once wanted him to adopt — was released in 1978. Fool (If You Think It’s Over) went on to receive a Grammy nomination.
Although major success dipped for a time, his eighth album On The Beach restored his popularity across the UK and Europe. With the release of The Road To Hell in 1989, Rea became one of Britain’s biggest solo stars, particularly beloved by a devoted audience.
Two studio albums — The Road To Hell (1989) and Auberge (1991) — reached number one in the UK. Driving Home For Christmas, first released in 1986, has become a seasonal staple and features in this year’s M&S Food Christmas advert, with Dawn French singing along in her car.
The track also appears on a Christmas album Rea released in October, featuring songs such as Footsteps In The Snow and Joys Of Christmas.
Speaking about the song during the 2020 Mortimer And Whitehouse: Gone Fishing Christmas special, Rea told Bob Mortimer: “I was on the dole when I wrote that.
“My manager had just left me. I’d just been banned from driving, right. My now wife, Joan, she had to drive down to London, picked me up in the Mini, and take me home, and that’s when I wrote it.”
Rea was a close friend of Mortimer, and in 1997 the pair recorded Let’s Dance for Middlesbrough Football Club’s FA Cup Final appearance — a collaboration now remembered with warmth, laughter and, for some fans tonight, an egg in the bath.
RIP Chris Rea - the man who gave us one of the best Christmas songs ever.
