Former Britain's Got Talent star Audrey Leybourne has sadly passed away, aged 95-years-old.
The successful singer and actress first appeared on the show in May 2018, capturing the hearts of the nation with her brilliant performance of I Wanna Be Loved By You from the 1928 musical Good Boy.
It is reported by the PA News Agency that Leybourne died in the early hours of Thursday morning (1 December), with the vicar of her church contacting the Press Association after being contacted by her next of kin.
Rev Simon Grigg of St Paul’s in Covent Garden, also known as the Actors’ Church, described Audrey as an 'amazing lady' with an 'extraordinary career' - going on to reveal that she had been working up until 18 months ago. He took to the church's official Facebook page to announce her passing, writing: "It is with deep sadness that we report the death of our much loved friend Audrey Leybourne, who died early on Thursday morning.
“She was a remarkable person, a real ‘trouper’ of an actress (starting her career with Sir Donald Wolfit, no less) and a much loved member of St. Paul’s. She has a last message for you all.
"When she was in hospital two weeks ago, she said to me, ‘If I pop off, tell everyone I don’t regret a thing. I’ve had a wonderful life’. Quite a statement. Quite a lady. Quite a Christian.”
Audrey previously performed as a member of tapdancing outfit the Roly Polys, who once appeared on the BBC's Les Dawson Show. During her Britain's Got Talent stint, she amused judges as well as the live studio audience with her suggestive answers.
Upon being asked By Amanda Holden if she was married, she replied: "No, I was in love many, many times… 22 gentlemen."
She also appeared on the stage in her first pantomime performance in her 90s, playing Potty T Potts in Beauty and the Beast. Presenter and charity campaigner, Dame Esther Rantzen, who was a close friend of Audrey, described her as a 'remarkable performer'.
She told PA: “We sent each other a Christmas card every Christmas, we had lunch together. She was multi-talented. She could do everything. She could dance, she could sing, she could play the tuba. She could act.
“And she was so funny. She was overflowing with humour and made growing older look great fun. She was delightful company, adventurous, curious. She just was so lively and so talented.
"She was a delight to be with.”
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