X Factor star and Simon Cowell’s former bodyguard ‘Big Tony’ dies aged 64
He worked with music mogul Cowell for eight years.
Bodyguard Tony Adkins, known as Big Tony, has died aged 64.
He worked closely with Simon Cowell and was a frequent face on The X Factor in its heyday, having joined the TV judge’s team during the first series of Pop Idol in 2001.
Adkins’ death was confirmed by his cousin this weekend, who announced that he died on Easter Sunday.
‘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’, a statement on social media read.
‘He was a loveable Rogue and will be missed very much, RIP Big T [sic]’.
Hammersmith and Fulham RFC also shared a tribute: ‘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.’
He worked with Cowell for eight years and was a frequent face on The X Factor in the 2000s (Picture: Huw John/REX/Shutterstock) Big Tony was close with other judges Dannii Minogue and Cheryl (Picture: Huw John/REX/Shutterstock) He was famously known as Big Tony (Picture: Mark Campbell/REX/Shutterstock)Adkins will be remembered by viewers of the ITV talent show for being the tough guy called in to defuse situations when auditions got heated, escorting contestants from the room away from the judges.
He once shared that things would’ve got out of hand with angry auditionees if he hadn’t been close by.
Speaking previously to The Mirror, he lifted the lid on what music mogul Cowell was like to work for, having spent eight years by his side.
‘Simon was so laid-back and a very nice guy,’ he said.
‘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.’
Adkins described Cowell as a ‘very private person’ who ‘doesn’t give much away’, even to those in his circle.
Adkins pictured with Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson in 2008 (Picture: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage)‘You never see him drunk or out of control.’
He added jokingly: ‘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.’
Adkins also spoke about working with the other TV judges, which included Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue, and Cheryl.
Adkins was dropped from The X Factor when a three-man security team replaced him (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)‘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 shared.
‘All the judges used to get on but they’d wind each other up, too.’
Adkins was dropped from The X Factor when a three-man security team replaced him as part of the show’s revamp.
He insisted he had no hard feelings about being axed, as he continued watching the programme from home.
Cowell is yet to speak publicly about his pal’s death.
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