Dirty Sanchez Star Mike ‘Pancho’ Locke Dies Aged 47 as Mathew Pritchard Shares Heartbreaking Tribute
Mike ‘Pancho’ Locke, one of the original stars of MTV’s Dirty Sanchez, has died aged 47, with Mathew Pritchard leading the tributes to his friend of over 35 years.
Mike ‘Pancho’ Locke, one of the original stars of MTV’s Dirty Sanchez, has died aged 47.
The news was confirmed today (Friday, 6 November) in a statement from his family and San Portablo, the Port Talbot clothing brand he helped establish.
Born Michael Richard Locke, Pancho became a cult TV favourite in the early 2000s alongside Mathew Pritchard, Lee Dainton and Dan Joyce. Known for their outrageous stunts, dark humour and total disregard for personal safety, the Dirty Sanchez crew became one of the most recognisable acts in alternative television.
But it’s the tributes from those who knew Pancho away from the cameras that show just how much he meant to the people around him.
“My Little Friend of Over 35 Years Has Left the Building”
Pancho’s longtime friend and former co-star Mathew Pritchard shared an emotional video on Instagram after hearing the news. Visibly shaken, Pritchard admitted he was struggling to find the words.
“My little friend of over 35 years has left the building,” he said.
Pritchard remembered meeting Pancho when he was around 14, looking back on decades of laughter, travelling the world together and getting into trouble during their Dirty Sanchez years. The pair first bonded through skateboarding, long before they became household names.
In a separate post, Pritchard wrote: “I love you Panch, until we meet again rest in power.”
An ‘Absolute Welsh Treasure’
In the statement shared by San Portablo alongside the Locke family, Pancho was remembered as a father, son, brother, uncle, friend, skateboarder and stuntman.
The tribute called him an “absolute Welsh Treasure” and celebrated a man who brought laughter and happiness to everyone around him. The brand confirmed it would close for the day as a mark of respect.
No cause of death has been made public.
From Welsh Skateboarder to MTV Cult Icon
Dirty Sanchez first aired on MTV in 2003, introducing the world to a group of friends whose extreme stunts and pranks quickly built an international following.
Often compared to America’s Jackass, the Welsh show carved out its own unmistakable identity, driven by the personalities and friendships of its four stars. It ran for four series between 2003 and 2007, and spawned Dirty Sanchez: The Movie in 2006.
Pancho also teamed up with Pritchard as one half of the notorious Pain Men on Channel 4’s Balls of Steel.
Away from TV, he stayed close to his Welsh roots through San Portablo, a streetwear brand celebrating the identity and culture of Port Talbot.
Tributes Pour In
Fellow Dirty Sanchez star Lee Dainton also paid tribute, reflecting on the friendships they formed through skateboarding and growing up together.
Dainton recalled a special moment when Pancho was surprised with his own skateboarding montage at a screening of Pritchard vs Dainton, which got a huge reaction from the crowd.
Comedian Sando Ford remembered Pancho as a loyal and generous friend who backed his early stand-up career without expecting anything in return.
For a generation who grew up on Dirty Sanchez, Pancho was part of a uniquely Welsh TV phenomenon that pushed boundaries and created countless unforgettable moments. But to those closest to him, he was much more than the fearless character on screen: a friend, a father, a skateboarder and a proud Welshman.
Rest in peace, Pancho. 1979–2026.
