'After Life' has been praised by Reverend Richard Coles after he became a widower himself.

The Netflix comedy - which stars 'Office' creator Ricky Gervais as widow Tony Johnson, who struggles to cope following the death of his wife - has been praised as "empathetic" by 1980s pop star-turned-vicar Richard after he lost his partner David in 2019. 

 He wrote on Twitter: "Watching #AfterLife, love it, pre and post my own widowhood. Empathetic, insightful, funny in a way I would have thought only someone who had experienced it could be. (sic)"

The 59-year-old reverend - who was known for releasing a dance version of 'Don't Leave Me This Way' in 1986 as part of pop duo The Communards, and took part in 2017's 'Strictly Come Dancing' - met David in 2007 after a sermon and they entered a civil partnership in 2010.

The couple lived together in their vicarage in the small town of Finedon in Northamptonshire, with David passing away after a long illness just over two years ago.

Richard previously said: "Of course it has its challenges and sacrifices … We live in good standing with the teaching of the Church, but I wouldn’t wish that to imply that I saw that as a good and noble thing, because I don’t, but it is currently where we are."

His praise for 'After Life' comes after Ricky - who wrote the award-winning show - admitted he was "gutted" that the comedy was coming to an end after three seasons.

He said: "I said to Netflix, ‘I’ll do one if the second series goes down a storm’, and I kept to that. 

"I fell in love with this. And, secretly, for the first time ever, I did want to do a third, and I’m gutted that I’m not doing a fourth, really. But it’s the right decision."