Britain's Got Talent's David J Watson dies at 62

Comedy entertainer auditioned for the show 12 times

Serial Britain's Got Talent contestant David J. Watson has died at the age of 62.

The entertainer from Altrincham, auditioned for the ITV talent show 12 times, trying everything from comedy magic, impressions and ventriloquism to try to impress judges.

He first tried for the show in 2007, and made it on air the following year with his impersonations of Tony Blair, William Hague and David Blunkett.

Judge Amanda Holden said his second appearance was 'bloody awful' and buzzed him off. And Simon Cowell said Watson was responsible for ‘the worst audition I have ever seen.’

Last year he managed his best performance, making it through to the second round with a magic act. Judges David Walliams and Alesha Dixon called it his 'best audition yet’.

In an interview with the Manchester Evening News earlier this year, Watson said: ‘I just love being on the show. To be on TV is very good because I get recognised in the Trafford Centre and people ask me for a selfie - I feel pretty honoured about it.’

And he said he accepted Cowell’s barbs as ‘part of the show’.

In 2002, before BGT, Watson appeared in a TV advert for Adidas alongside David Beckham as an extra.

Holden posted on Instagram: ‘So sad to hear that @davidjwatsonbgt has passed away. He was always up for a laugh and such a good sport. @bgt We will miss him.’

News reports say his body was found by police who broke into his home after members of his family expressed concern that he wasn’t replying to phone calls or messages. No cause of death has yet been reported.