Piers Morgan Has Donated £640 To The Funeral Fund Of The Late ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Warm-Up Act Ian Royce.
The former ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge – who worked on the show from 2007 to 2011 – helped raise money for the ITV show’s warm-up act following his death earlier this month.
Ian’s daughter, Roxanne, who set up the fundraising website, wrote on the GoFundMe site that her father “was a funny, kind hearted and loved man who felt at home on a stage making everyone laugh”.
She posted: “Above all he will be remembered for helping others and being a great dad’, explaining the funds will help his family pay for the ‘funeral and future memorial, with any remaining being shared amongst his favourite charities.”
Along with other various donations from ‘BGT’ fans, Piers donated £640 and he wrote: “RIP Roycey, and thanks for all the laughs.”
Former ‘BGT’ performer Megan McKenna – who appeared on the show in 2009 – also donated money towards Ian’s funeral.
She wrote: “Roycey was such a funny, warm and kind hearted man. I saw him around 10-15 times at ‘BGT’ and ‘X Factor’ auditions, and he made me belly laugh each time. Around 3 years ago, he took me to the judges table to meet the judges during a taping. I didn’t ask him to, and didn’t even know he was going to do it – he just did it because he knew I was a big fan, particularly of Amanda, and wanted to be kind. Thank you for all the laughs and that very special memory, Roycey. (sic)”
The beloved entertainer – whose job it was to keep the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ audiences happy in the minutes before the live shows began – battled with severe pneumonia and multiple organ failure prior to his death, but was “in no pain”.
In a statement shared on Ian’s Twitter, his family wrote: “It is with our greatest regret that we have to tell you all that Ian has passed away today from severe pneumonia and multiple organ failure. He was in no pain and was surrounded by friends and family. He put up a good fight but is in a better place now. Roxanne x (sic)”