Gemma Collins has revealed she spoke to David Gest just hours before he died in London, and was due to have dinner with him on the night of his death. The American music producer and television personality was found unresponsive in his hotel room ten years ago, and was due to meet Gemma after she had finished watching Adele at the O2 Arena - but he did not answer her call.
Final phone call with David Gest
The TOWIE star detailed the devastating final hours of his life as she returned to the Big Brother house as a civilian, the same compound she and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here star David shared a few months before his death.
"I was in here with David Gest," she told the housemates. "He called me the night before he died. So he rung me, I said, 'yes, David,' and he said, 'can we go to Taco Bell? I've seen there's one in London'."
Gemma went on: "I said 'All right, I'm going to see Adele tonight, but I'm going to call you after the concert, I'm gonna come to your hotel, we'll have a cup of tea'."
David Gest's death and funeral
"As I left Adele, I gave him a call and there was no answer. I thought he'd fallen asleep. Then I got the news that he had passed away. He had the best stories I had ever heard in my life. He was a nice, nice man."
Music producer-turned-TV star David died aged 62, leaving showbiz friends and family devastated. His body was discovered in a London hotel room in 2016. He had been struggling with several serious health conditions, and was forced to leave the CBB house early.
The entertainer had been living in the capital, setting up home in a lavish suite at what was then the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf. Throughout his stint in the Big Brother house, David's health appeared to deteriorate progressively, with much of his time spent resting in the property's spare bedroom.
Tributes and funeral attendance
After David's sad death, Gemma paid tribute to her friend, as she tweeted: "Absolutely beside myself David Guest I you so much so so sad to hear this will never forget you X the phone calls I will miss so much RIP".
Authorities confirmed no suspicious circumstances surrounded his death, which was determined to be from natural causes, with reports suggesting he had experienced a stroke. David's body was discovered on the Tuesday, with the final confirmed sighting of him occurring the previous Wednesday when he was spotted on the London Underground travelling towards Canary Wharf.
Gemma reunited with her Celebrity Big Brother housemates including Darren Day, Danniella Westbrook, Stephanie Davis and Jeremy McConnell at the funeral. The ceremony was held at Golders Green crematorium in London, with the likes of Dean Gaffney, Denise Welch and Christopher Maloney in attendance.
