X Factor star from ‘Britain’s Fattest Family’ reveals dad has died 11 months after her mum in ‘the year from hell’
A former X Factor singer has been left heartbroken after losing both her parents and her dog in the same year.
Emma Chawner, who first appeared on the British reality television music competition in 2007, has issued a heartbreaking plea after what she said had been ‘the year from hell.’
The reality TV star revealed her father Philip passed away in hospital on December 15 following a heart attack.
The sad news followed the devastating loss of her mum, who died in her sleep in January at the age of 73.
Her dog also passed the day after.
During her stint on X Factor Emma and her family famously clashed with judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh.
She first auditioned for the contest, which sees contestants compete against each other to impress the judges to win a coveted record contract, in 2007.
Her rendition of Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ received four rejections from the judges.
Not one to be defeated she returned two years later to duet with her sister.
They failed to hit the right note with the music moguls, however, with the singers’ mother Audrey arguing with Simon after he called Emma a ‘flump.’
Cheryl Tweedy also told her: “Emma, I have to say, you’re definitely more confident when you’ve got your sister with you. But nothing else has really improved, unfortunately.”
The Chawner family went on to appear in several other reality TV shows that saw them branded the ‘fattest and laziest’ family in Britain.
The family featured shows, including The Jeremy Kyle Show, Nightmare Neighbours in 2016, and a six-part ITV series in 2009 called Lorraine Kelly’s Big Fat Challenge.
In the latter series, the TV presenter tried to help the family lose weight.
In 2020, Emma discussed her incredible 16-stone weight loss journey with Lorraine, telling the TV star she decided to lose weight after online trolling and the stress she encountered after her parents shock split in 2015.
At the time, Emma said on The Jeremy Kyle Show: ‘It was such a big shock” after her mum Audrey vanished, taking her clothes and leaving her wedding ring behind, leaving the family devastated.
Following her father’s passing recently Emma launched an online GoFundMe fundraiser for his funeral, writing: “My dad was a lovely caring respectful man and I miss him so much.”
“I only just lost my mum back in January this year and also my dog the day after my mum, so now I don’t have any family left.”
“I hate asking for help put this time I have no choice.”