Britain's Got Talent star Allan Finnegan has died at the age of 59, nearly five years after being diagnosed with cancer. The Baptist minister and stand-up comedian reached the semi-finals of the ITV talent show in 2020, impressing judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon, and Amanda Holden with his act.
Finnegan died surrounded by his wife and daughters on Friday evening, his family confirmed in a statement on his Instagram. 'He bravely fought so hard to battle cancer for almost 5 years,' the statement read, describing him as 'amazing, caring and funny.' The family added, 'We have the most precious memories as a family and will love and miss him so much.'
Final moments and tribute
In his final moments, the family played Finnegan his favourite music, including Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. The statement continued: 'We would like to thank each and everyone of you for your support, love and amazing generosity during Allan's battle. We are eternally grateful to you all, as this gave Allan precious extra time to spend with his family and new grandson.'
Finnegan had been diagnosed with eye and liver cancer. At the beginning of 2024, he was given 12 months to live. The Merseyside native first noticed a problem with his eyesight two years prior and was later told he had tumours in both eyes, one diagnosed as ocular melanoma, a rare but serious form of cancer.
What is ocular melanoma?
Ocular melanoma is a type of eye cancer that starts in the cells that make melanin, which give the eyes their colour. According to Ocular Melanoma UK, around 750 people are diagnosed with this cancer in the UK each year. Symptoms can include blurred vision, flashes of light, and dark spots in the iris, but it can also have no symptoms, making regular eye tests important.
After treatment, Finnegan learned the cancer had spread, as he had a high chance of recurrence due to a certain type of gene.
Legacy and book
In recent months, Finnegan released a book titled I Didn't Ask For Any of This: Church, Comedy and Cancer, which chronicled his journey from a church minister to the Britain's Got Talent stage and his terminal diagnosis. In his Amazon author bio, he wrote: 'First and foremost I'm a husband, dad, grandad and Liverpool fan. Not just the football club but the city as well. It's a great, friendly place to live.' He added, 'I've had a varied career, from building sites to Baptist minister. Stand-up comedian and somehow starred on Britain's Got Talent in 2020. I am hoping this book will be my legacy.'
