A legendary figure from the X Factor has sadly passed away.
In the wake of this unfortunate news, tributes are flooding social media, with one admirer stating: “Truly heartbreaking, rest in peace. Sleep peacefully.”
Another individual remarked: “What an icon! I always enjoyed watching him on screen! Rest in peace.”
“I am deeply sorry for your loss, sending you all my love, hugs, and prayers during this challenging time,” a third person commented.
Bodyguard Tony Adkins, more widely recognized as ‘Big Tony,’ has passed away at the age of 64.
Adkins played a unique and unforgettable part in the legendary British television program X Factor, where he was frequently observed dramatically escorting contestants off the stage who either refused to leave or exhibited hostility towards the judges.
Some of the most iconic moments in the show’s history feature ‘Big Tony’ making an appearance to confront an irate contestant.
The 64-year-old stood alongside Simon Cowell for eight years, until his tenure on the talent show concluded in 2009.
After concluding his tenure on the show and his collaboration with Cowell, Adkins expressed nothing but admiration for the music mogul.
Adkins remarked to the Mirror: “Simon was incredibly relaxed and a genuinely nice individual.
“He was also quite generous. Whenever the show wrapped up – especially during Christmas – you would receive an envelope as a token of appreciation. The last one I received contained £700.”
The former bodyguard further stated: “He is a very private individual. He tends to keep a lot to himself. You never witness him intoxicated or behaving erratically.
“Simon is somewhat vain – he constantly attends to his hair.”
Adkins disclosed that Cowell owned approximately ’20 identical T-shirts,’ recounting a moment when the judge discovered a hole in one, prompting him to retrieve another from a substantial stack of T-shirts he possessed.
The X Factor icon also portrayed a giant in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
The tragic news regarding Adkins’ death was verified by his cousin via social media.
The family member wrote: “It is with profound sorrow that my family wishes to announce that my cousin Big Tony, who was Simon Cowell’s former bodyguard, has passed away on Easter Sunday while participating in a Rugby Tour.
“He was a charming rogue and will be greatly missed, RIP Big T.”
Adkins’ rugby club, Hammersmith and Fulham RFC, which he had been affiliated with for 40 years, stated: “It is with deep sadness that Hammersmith & Fulham RFC honors a true gentleman and remarkable Hammer, Tony Adkins, who died on Easter Sunday while touring with the Club in Poland.”
The message further elaborated: “More than just a Rugby player, Tony discovered a new path later in life under the spotlight, serving as a long-time bodyguard for Simon Cowell during his tenure on X Factor, and appearing in the Harry Potter series as a giant, a role that everyone agreed was quite fitting.
Cowell has not yet made any public statements regarding the death of his former bodyguard.
