Britain’s Got Talent star Allan Finnegan dies aged 59 after rare cancer diagnosis: ‘We miss him so much’
Britain’s Got Talent star Allan Finnegan dies aged 59 after rare cancer diagnosis: ‘We miss him so much’
Lauren MorrisMon, June 22, 2026 at 8:39 AM UTC
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Britain's Got Talent contestant Allan Finnegan has died, aged 59, after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Baptist minister appeared on BGT in 2020 as a stand-up comedian, making it to the semi-final with his set about life in the church.
Finnegan's family took to Instagram to announce that the comic had died, four years after being diagnosed with ocular melanoma – a rare form of eye cancer.
"It is with great sadness that our family share the devastating news that our amazing, caring, funny, Husband, Dad, Grandad, Son, Father-in-law, Church Minister, and Comedian, Allan, went home to be with his Lord and Saviour at 9:10pm on Friday, 19 June 2026," they wrote on Sunday (21 June).
Allan Finnegan on Britain's Got Talent (ITV / YouTube)
"He bravely fought so hard to battle cancer for almost five years. We have the most precious memories as a family and will love and miss him so much."
They added that Finnegan was surrounded by family in his final moments, while his favourite son, Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here", played. "Allan opened his eyes and peacefully took his last breath," they wrote. "It was an incredibly heartbreaking moment, but also a very precious and beautiful one for our family."
They thanked his fans for their support over the last few years.
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In December 2024, Finnegan revealed that he had been given one year to live after learning that the cancer had spread.
He was diagnosed in 2022 after experiencing issues with his vision, telling the Liverpool Echo: "Just before the check-up, the vision in my left eye started going slightly darker and I started seeing flashes. I mentioned it but they originally found something in my right eye. I kept saying there's something in my left eye."
Doctors found tumours in both eyes, diagnosing Finnegan with ocular melanoma. While the disease was treated soon after, Finnegan was told that he had a high chance of the cancer returning, adding: "It usually is in the liver."
In 2023, he was told that the cancer had spread and was "untreatable".
"Watching my wife and kids cry, seeing other people cry, that makes me more emotional," he explained. "The congregation has been fabulous. Apparently, it was a bit of a shock to them when they found out. It was read out when I was away and I heard there were plenty of tears. They've been massively supportive."
Finnegan auditioned for the 14th series of BGT, performing his stand-up act in the show's second semi-final. He lost out on a place in the final, with comedy singer Jon Courtenay winning that year's competition.
The vicar won round the judges with his dark jokes about funerals and dead family members, but not all viewers – with 304 viewers complaining following his semi-final performance.
After his stint on the show, he returned to his job as a church minister and published his memoir, I Didn't Ask For Any of This: Church, Comedy and Cancer, which detailed his journey from his baptist beginnings to the BGT stage.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
