Latest news with #ChantelBellew
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mum pays tribute to Britain's Got Talent star who died aged 34
The mum of a passionate tap dancer who made it to the latter stages of Britain's Got Talent said: "Not many people in life get to make their dream come true, and she did." Chantel Bellew, from Widnes, "always had a smile on her face" before her mental health took a downwards turn, the Liverpool Echo reported. The 34-year-old, who appeared on the 2019 edition of Britain's Got Talent contest and wowed the judges with her performance, died on March 22 this year. READ MORE: 5 games released in 2025 guaranteed to take you back to the good old days of gaming READ MORE: The 5 simple tricks to speed up your broadband Her mum Jill Dawson told the Echo: "There are many girls who do dance and you're not always going to be a star. They go out dancing week on week and some never make it, but Chantel did, and she should be doing it now. That's what's so devastating. "It has not just shocked people in Widnes, it has shocked a lot of people in the dancing community. She always had a smile on her face. "Chantel was always the first one up at a party. Everybody said she just sparkled. She has friends who are grieving terribly. We're all broken. Chantel's love of showbusiness began when she was just three years old, when she joined a Morris dancing club. She later joined a professional dance school for tap and ballet. She bagged her first leading role in a production of Grease at The Bankfield School, where she played heroine Sandy. Following a successful audition, Chantel spent three years at The Hammond, honing her dancing and singing skills. She went on to perform on various cruise liners, as well as musicals productions including Top Hat, Scrooge, and White Christmas. Jill said: "When she went on her first cruise liner she was a dancer, but Chantel could tap, sing and perform. So when she went on the next ship she went as a singer. "That was Chantel. She had that much in her. She was very loving, caring for everybody, and always had a smile on her face when she was in that performing time of her life. Dancing was her world." Chantel, who lived in Atherton, Wigan, appeared on ITV's Britain's Got Talent in 2019 with a military-themed group dance routine, backed up by male dancers from The Holland. She narrowly missed out on the semi-finals, losing the crown to 89-year-old war veteran Colin Thackery. She returned to Widnes, where she started her own stage school, Chantel Bellew Workshops, teaching children to sing and tap dance. Sadly, Jill said the last years of her daughter's life "had not been kind to her" as her mental health took a turn for the worse. In November 2019, she was admitted to a unit as an inpatient during the Covid-19 lockdown. She was rushed to hospital on March 17 this year after taking an overdose of painkillers, the MEN reported. The 34-year-old was found at home by her wife Genna Timewell, who said she was "walking very unsteadily and looking disorientated". Ms Timewell called 999, then drove Chantel to Royal Bolton Hospital herself after being told an ambulance would take 40 minutes to arrive. Her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to St James University Hospital in Leeds for specialist treatment, where she died on March 22. Jill said: "She came to visit me one day and I thought she had bipolar because of the way she was eating, the way she couldn't look at me in the eye when she was talking, the way she was drinking her tea. I knew there was something wrong. "Chantel was bubbly before all this. Very caring. She would always listen to people. She loved teaching children. Dance was her life." "Her childhood dream was to star in 42nd Street (the musical) and she got to do it in Paris. I went to see her. I went to watch the show when I arrived on Christmas Eve and we spent Christmas Day in Disneyland Paris. It was amazing. "My daughter had reached a goal she had since she was eight. That's all she wanted to do and I'm so glad she got that. It wasn't a dream in the end, it was reality. "As a family we're so proud of her. Not many people in life get to make their dream come true and she did." At an inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court last month, coroner John Pollard said Chantel "took the excess of tablets knowing the outcome would almost certainly be fatal and that she deliberately did so... when she knew that Genna was not there to stop her". He handed down a conclusion of suicide. Jill said that, though she did not dispute that her daughter took her own life, she thought the inquest was "one-sided" and she believed she had not had the opportunity to speak at length about Chantel's life. She said: "It has been absolutely devastating and our lives will never been the same. I watched my daughter in a coma for two days, fighting for her life. I've had to stop working after 11 years due to it. I can't function right. My life is broken. "A lot of friends are still grieving. People are saying 'what happened?' She had such sparkle. She brightened up every room. I just want people to know there's always help out there."
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Britain's Got Talent ‘whirlwind' who delighted Ant and Dec with cheeky dance routine took her own life
BRITAIN'S Got Talent star Chantel Bellew, who made Ant and Dec giggle with her cheeky dance routine, took her own life, a coroner concluded. The TV dancer, who made it to the quarter finals in 2019, tragically passed away in hospital just weeks after her 34th birthday. 3 3 She was rushed to hospital on March 17 this year after overdosing, and sadly died five days later, MEN reported. Her mother Jill Dawson described her as a "beautiful daughter" and "model student". An inquest into her death at Bolton Coroners' Court found that the dancer intentionally took her own life when she knew her wife would not be home to stop her. The inquest was told she suffered with mental health problems for "quite some time". The talented performer made Ant and Dec crack up when her costume was ripped off by two male dancers to reveal a Union Jack bodysuit. Chantel also won over the nation's heart when she taught Strictly star Anton Du Beke how to tap dance. She posted a clip at the time and wrote: "Great day teaching Anton some tap." Chantel was a talented dancer and performed in musicals including the Paris production of 42nd Street. She had also featured in the UK tour of The Greatest Showman and worked as an entertainer on cruise ships. The 34-year-old lived in Widnes, Cheshire, and taught dance and singing in recent years. Shortly before her tragic death, Chantel started working in a supermarket and was a teaching assistant. Her family said: "Chantel was more than a daughter, wife, sister, niece, cousin and friend. She was a kind, loving, and passionate spirit who brought joy and laughter to so many. "Chantel was a talent second to none who was the life and soul of every party." Close pal Katy Glover previously paid tribute to her and said: "She was such a whirlwind, the life and soul of the party and such a bundle of life. "She lived and breathed glamour and showbiz and she was a fantastic tap dancer, she did a number of Britain's Got Talent which she loved, and she kept telling everyone. "Chantel said she'd had a brilliant time and treated it as another audition because she was so professional, and she was so determined. "She also taught Anton Du Beke tap as well because tap was her life, she was the best tapper out there. "She was incredible, one of a kind, sparkly and loving and loyal. "She sang and danced but tap was her niche, and she loved all the glitz and glam. "42nd Street was her favourite musical, and she was delighted to be part of it, and it was one of the highlights of her career. She just lived to perform." If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Britain's Got Talent ‘whirlwind' who delighted Ant and Dec with cheeky dance routine took her own life
BRITAIN'S Got Talent star Chantel Bellew, who made Ant and Dec giggle with her cheeky dance routine , took her own life, a coroner concluded. T he TV dancer, who made it to the quarter finals in 2019, tragically passed away in hospital Advertisement 3 The Britain's Got Talent star who made Ant and Dec giggle died aged 34 Credit: Chantel Bellew 3 The TV dancer made it to the quarter finals in 2019 Credit: ITV 3 Chantel Bellew passed away in hospital from an overdose just weeks after her birthday Credit: Chantel Bellew She was rushed to hospital on March 17 this year after overdosing, and sadly died five days later, Her mother Jill Dawson described her as a "beautiful daughter" and "model student". An inquest into her death at Bolton Coroners' Court found that the dancer intentionally took her own life when she knew her wife would not be home to stop her. The inquest was told she suffered with mental health problems for "quite some time". Advertisement The talented performer made Ant and Dec crack up when her costume was ripped off by two male dancers to reveal a Union Jack bodysuit. Chantel also won over the nation's heart when she taught Strictly star Anton Du Beke how to tap dance. She posted a clip at the time and wrote: "Great day teaching Anton some tap." Chantel was a talented dancer and performed in musicals including the Paris production of 42nd Street. Advertisement Most read in TV She had also featured in the UK tour of The Greatest Showman and worked as an entertainer on cruise ships. The 34-year-old lived in Widnes, Cheshire, and taught dance and singing in recent years. Shortly before her tragic death, Chantel started working in a supermarket and was a teaching assistant. Her family said: "Chantel was more than a daughter, wife, sister, niece, cousin and friend. She was a kind, loving, and passionate spirit who brought joy and laughter to so many. Advertisement "Chantel was a talent second to none who was the life and soul of every party." Close pal Katy Glover previously paid tribute to her and said: "She was such a whirlwind, the life and soul of the party and such a bundle of life. "She lived and breathed glamour and showbiz and she was a fantastic tap dancer, she did a number of Britain's Got Talent which she loved, and she kept telling everyone. "Chantel said she'd had a brilliant time and treated it as another audition because she was so professional, and she was so determined. Advertisement "She also taught Anton Du Beke tap as well because tap was her life, she was the best tapper out there. "She was incredible, one of a kind, sparkly and loving and loyal. "She sang and danced but tap was her niche, and she loved all the glitz and glam. Read more on the Irish Sun "42nd Street was her favourite musical, and she was delighted to be part of it, and it was one of the highlights of her career. She just lived to perform." Advertisement If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
