
Britain's Got Talent ‘whirlwind' who delighted Ant and Dec with cheeky dance routine took her own life
TRAGIC STAR Britain's Got Talent 'whirlwind' who delighted Ant and Dec with cheeky dance routine took her own life
BRITAIN'S Got Talent star Chantel Bellew, who made Ant and Dec giggle with her cheeky dance routine, took her own life, a coroner concluded.
The TV dancer, who made it to the quarter finals in 2019, tragically passed away in hospital just weeks after her 34th birthday.
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The Britain's Got Talent star who made Ant and Dec giggle died aged 34
Credit: Chantel Bellew
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The TV dancer made it to the quarter finals in 2019
Credit: ITV
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Chantel Bellew passed away in hospital from an overdose just weeks after her birthday
Credit: Chantel Bellew
She was rushed to hospital on March 17 this year after overdosing, and sadly died five days later, MEN reported.
Her mother Jill Dawson described her as a "beautiful daughter" and "model student".
An inquest into her death at Bolton Coroners' Court found that the dancer intentionally took her own life when she knew her wife would not be home to stop her.
The inquest was told she suffered with mental health problems for "quite some time".
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The talented performer made Ant and Dec crack up when her costume was ripped off by two male dancers to reveal a Union Jack bodysuit.
Chantel also won over the nation's heart when she taught Strictly star Anton Du Beke how to tap dance.
She posted a clip at the time and wrote: "Great day teaching Anton some tap."
Chantel was a talented dancer and performed in musicals including the Paris production of 42nd Street.
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She had also featured in the UK tour of The Greatest Showman and worked as an entertainer on cruise ships.
The 34-year-old lived in Widnes, Cheshire, and taught dance and singing in recent years.
Shortly before her tragic death, Chantel started working in a supermarket and was a teaching assistant.
Her family said: "Chantel was more than a daughter, wife, sister, niece, cousin and friend. She was a kind, loving, and passionate spirit who brought joy and laughter to so many.
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"Chantel was a talent second to none who was the life and soul of every party."
Close pal Katy Glover previously paid tribute to her and said: "She was such a whirlwind, the life and soul of the party and such a bundle of life.
"She lived and breathed glamour and showbiz and she was a fantastic tap dancer, she did a number of Britain's Got Talent which she loved, and she kept telling everyone.
"Chantel said she'd had a brilliant time and treated it as another audition because she was so professional, and she was so determined.
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"She also taught Anton Du Beke tap as well because tap was her life, she was the best tapper out there.
"She was incredible, one of a kind, sparkly and loving and loyal.
"She sang and danced but tap was her niche, and she loved all the glitz and glam.
"42nd Street was her favourite musical, and she was delighted to be part of it, and it was one of the highlights of her career. She just lived to perform."
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