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, who reached the semi-finals of the ITV talent show in 2020, passed away on Friday evening surrounded by his wife and daughters, his family confirmed in a statement on Instagram.
Family tribute and final moments
In the statement, his family described Finnegan as 'amazing, caring and funny', adding: 'He bravely fought so hard to battle cancer for almost 5 years. We have the most precious memories as a family and will love and miss him so much.' The post included a photo of Finnegan with his family in a garden.
During his final moments, his family played 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.'
Cancer diagnosis and battle
Finnegan was diagnosed with eye and liver cancer. He had noticed a problem with his eyesight two years prior and, after a medical check, was told he had tumours in both eyes. One was diagnosed as ocular melanoma, a rare but serious form of eye cancer that starts in the cells that produce melanin. 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 be asymptomatic, making regular eye tests important.
After treatment, the father of two learned the cancer had spread, and he had a high chance of recurrence due to a specific gene. At the beginning of 2024, he was given 12 months to live.
Career and legacy
Finnegan appeared on Britain's Got Talent in 2020, impressing judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden with his stand-up comedy act. He later released a book titled I Didn't Ask For Any of This: Church, Comedy and Cancer, chronicling his journey from church minister to 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. 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.'
