Tony Adkins dead: X Factor legend and Simon Cowell's pal dies as family share tribute

X Factor legend Tony Adkins, better known as Big Tony, died aged 64 on Easter Sunday while on a rugby tour. A family member confirmed the tragic news on social media.

Sharing a picture of Tony, his cousin posted: "It is with great sadness my family would like to announce that my Cousin Big Tony, Simon Cowell's ex bodyguard, passed away on Easter Sunday while on a Rugby Tour. He was a loveable Rogue and will be missed very much, RIP Big T."

Hammersmith and Fulham RFC shared a tribute to Tony on its website, writing: "It is with immense sadness that the club pays tribute to a true gent and great Hammer, Tony Adkins, who passed away whilst on tour with the Club in Poland on Easter Sunday."

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When contestants were rowdy or upset on The , bodyguard Tony was often brought in to remove them from the audition rooms.

After working on the show, Tony opened up about his experience working with Simon.

He previously told the : "Simon was so laid-back and a very nice guy. He was generous, too. Whenever the show finished - and at - you'd get an envelope as a thank you. The last one I got had £700 stuffed in it."

Tony added: "He's a very private person. He doesn't give much away. You never see him drunk or out of control. Simon is vain - he does his hair all the time.

"If there are five breaks in filming then Simon will do his hair five times. And I think he has about 20 identical T-shirts. I remember once he had a hole in one, so he just reached into a bag and pulled out another from a big pile."

He also discussed the other judges, including and Cheryl Cole.

"Louis goes around saying, 'Hello, hello hello,' all the time, always up for a laugh. Cheryl's pleasant, and Dannii's really laid-back and will talk to anyone," he revealed.

"All the judges used to get on but they'd wind each other up, too.

"If Simon thought Louis was being mean about an auditionee he'd say, 'Louis, go and apologise,' but Louis would refuse. So Simon would ask him again to say sorry but Louis would just say no.

"And they'd just carry on like that, winding each other up. But they were really good friends."

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