Tamsin Greig urged Paul Ritter not to take part in 'Friday Night Dinner' special due to ill health

Tamsin Greig tried to convince Paul Ritter not to take part in the upcoming Friday Night Dinner 10th anniversary special due to his deteriorating health.

Greig, 54, who plays Jackie Goodman in the hit Channel 4 drama, revealed that she tried to convince her late co-star and on-screen husband against taking part in the special.

“Sadly at the time of making the documentary, Paul was pretty unwell and to be honest — don’t tell the producers this — but I did try and persuade him not to do the interview,” reports the Daily Mail.

She adds that his decision to take part in the 10th anniversary special, which is set to air on Friday 28 May, spoke volumes about his work ethic.

Watch: Paul Ritter died aged 54

“It is a testament to Paul’s courage and generosity and dignity and complete lack of vanity that he wanted to participate in the documentary, to do an interview, and to really celebrate this little world that he’s been a part of and that he’s enjoyed so much over the years,” Greig said.

Read more: Paul Ritter given posthumous Bafta Television Award nomination

Ritter sadly passed away on 5 April at the age of 54, after battling a brain tumour.

Greig reflected on her time with Ritter and said that he would want viewers to 'sit back and laugh' at the show while adding that the 'incredible actor, true friend and lovely human being', is 'missed terribly.'

The special, titled, Friday Night Dinner – 10 Years And A Lovely Bit Of Squirrel will take viewers back through the archives at some of the show’s funniest moments. It is also set to include interviews with the show’s cast and crew and series’ creator Robert Popper.

The award-winning show which first hit TV screens in 2011, centres around The Goodmans, a middle-class Jewish family, as they meet for a weekly meal in their North London home.

Greig and Ritter starred as parents Jackie and Martin Goodman to sons Adam Goodman (Simon Bird) and Jonny Goodman (Tom Rosenthal).

Read more: Friday Night Dinner star Simon Bird pens moving tribute to screen dad Paul Ritter

Speaking ahead of the special Channel 4’s Head of Comedy, Fiona McDermott said:

“We're looking forward to spending an evening giving them the celebration they deserve, so we hope you can virtually gather your Mum, Dad, Auntie Val and your socially awkward (and distanced) neighbour and enjoy a lovely little night with The Goodman's.”

Watch: Paul Ritter passes away