TV

BGT’s Rob King opens up about friendship with Manchester bomb victim Martyn Hett

Rob King speaks about the devastating loss of one of his biggest supporters

A hopeful performing on tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent (May 4) has revealed that he was inspired to sign up to the show by his late friend, Martyn Hett.

Rob King told The Mirror that he was friends with Martyn, who was tragically killed at the Manchester Arena bombing on May 22, 2017.

“Martyn’s the reason I applied for BGT. He was on my mind as I stood on stage trembling in front of Simon Cowell. He gave me that strength,” he told the paper.

This image is strictly embargoed until 12.00 Saturday 4th May 2019 From Syco / Thames Britain's Got Talent: SR13: Ep5 on ITV Pictured: Rob King. This photograph is (C) Syco/Thames and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052
Rob will appear on BGT tonight (Credit: ITV/©Syco/Thames)

Read more: BGT cuts audition after contestant takes own life

Rob says he still thinks of him every day, and that Martyn was one of his biggest cheerleaders when it came to supporting his singing.

“His friendship, and loss, has been a vital life lesson. He never wasted a second and seized every opportunity.

Martyn was one of the 22 killed at the Manchester Arena bombing (Credit: Instagram/Martyn Hett)

“After he was taken, the hashtag BeMoreMartyn inspired people to be more positive and go-ahead like him. I think of him every day,” he said.

Martyn was killed just aged 29 years and was a PR manager as well as a Coronation Street superfan.

Read more: Simon Cowell storms off BGT after audience disagrees with him

He became a bit of an online celebrity after he had his leg tattoo transformed into Corrie legend Deirdre Barlow’s face on E4’s Tattoo Fixers.

Martyn was killed at just 29 years old (Credit: Instagram/ Martyn Hett).

He was buried in a Corrie and his pet cat themed coffin, and the ceremony was attended by several of the soap’s stars, including Antony Cotton, Jennie McAlpine and Kym Marsh.

Rob sang at the service: “He always said he wanted me to sing a Mariah Carey song, Till the End of Time, at his wedding. I was devastated, and also honoured, to be invited to sing it at Martyn’s vigil and funeral.”

You may recognise Rob from his past telly appearance.

He appeared on BBC’s All Together Now in 2017 as one of the panel’s singing experts.

Will you be tuning into tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent? Let us know what you think of this story on @EntertainmentDailyFix