X Factor star and Simon Cowell's pal Tony Adkins dies as family pay tribute
An X Factor legend has died at the age of 64 on Easter Sunday, as confirmed by family on social media with a touching tribute
X Factor legend Tony Adkins, known as Big Tony, passed away at the age of 64 on Easter Sunday while on a rugby tour. The heartbreaking news was confirmed by a family member on social media.
His cousin posted a tribute online, along with a picture of Tony, with the caption: "It is with great sadness my family would like to announce that my Cousin Big Tony, Simon Cowell's ex bodyguard, passed away on Easter Sunday while on a Rugby Tour. He was a loveable Rogue and will be missed very much, RIP Big T."
Hammersmith and Fulham RFC shared a touching tribute to Tony on its website, stating: "It is with immense sadness that the club pays tribute to a true gent and great Hammer, Tony Adkins, who passed away whilst on tour with the Club in Poland on Easter Sunday."
Tony was a bodyguard on the popular ITV show the X Factor, and when contestants got rowdy or upset he was often brought in to remove them from the audition room.
After leaving his job as a bodyguard on the show, Tony opened up about his experience working with Simon - who he worked closely with for eight years.
He previously told the Mirror: "Simon was so laid-back and a very nice guy. He was generous, too. Whenever the show finished - and at Christmas - you'd get an envelope as a thank you. The last one I got had £700 stuffed in it."
Tony added: "He's a very private person. He doesn't give much away. You never see him drunk or out of control. Simon is vain - he does his hair all the time.
"If there are five breaks in filming then Simon will do his hair five times. And I think he has about 20 identical T-shirts. I remember once he had a hole in one, so he just reached into a bag and pulled out another from a big pile."
He also revealed that Simon was 'vain' and would 'do his hair' at any point where there was a break from filming.
He also gave his opinion on the other judges on the show, including Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole.
"Louis goes around saying, 'Hello, hello hello,' all the time, always up for a laugh. Cheryl's pleasant, and Dannii's really laid-back and will talk to anyone," he revealed.
"All the judges used to get on but they'd wind each other up, too."
"If Simon thought Louis was being mean about an auditionee he'd say, 'Louis, go and apologise,' but Louis would refuse. So Simon would ask him again to say sorry but Louis would just say no.
"And they'd just carry on like that, winding each other up. But they were really good friends."
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