Comedian Gareth Richards is in intensive care following a car crash.

His agents have released a statement today saying: "We are very sad to announce that one of our management clients at Mirth Control, comedian Gareth Richards, has been very seriously injured in a car crash this week, he remains in a coma currently in intensive care."

It is believed the crash happened on the M25 near Heathrow Airport on 27th March, and Surrey Live reports that he is now in a 'life threatening' condition.

His manager Lynne Johnstone comments: "We are praying that he makes a miraculous recovery and are in touch with his family who are taking one day at a time, our thoughts go out to them and to all and his friends. We are all thinking of him and willing him to pull through."

Richards has been performing comedy live since 2004. In 2010 he took his first solo stand up show, Stand Up Between Songs, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was nominated in the Edinburgh Comedy Award Best Newcomer category. This August he was planning to take his tenth solo show the festival.

Richards co-hosted Frank Skinner's Sony award-winning Absolute Radio show for two years and still regularly fills in. Speaking on air today, Skinner broke down in tears revealing the news to listeners.

He said: "Gareth was in a very big road accident this week and it's not looking great for Gareth. He's in hospital and he's fighting but it's not looking great."

Talking about presenting with Emily Dean, Skinner also explained how Richards became involved in the programme: "We have been doing this show for 14 years and when we first did the pilot for it, me and Emily, it was rubbish, just the two of us. We got a guest on the next one who was Gareth Richards, who was brilliant on here and we asked him to do the show. So for the first few years it was me, Em and Gareth. It was great, exciting times. He became a very close friend and has supported me on tour."

Skinner ended the show by asking his listeners who have faith to offer up their prayers for the comedian. He signed off: "I don't know if any of you do pray but, if you do, give one for Gareth this week."