An X Factor star who made quite the impression on the ITV show has issued a devastating message after losing members of her family in 2024.
Emma Chawner, who appeared on the singing competition twice, famously clashed with Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Dannii Minogue, and Louis Walsh.
Her first appearance in 2007, as a solo singer, saw her receive four resounding rejections from the judges after singing Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On.
After revealing to her family that she’d been turned down, mum Audrey and dad Philip confronted the judges themselves in an angry exchange.
Not to be deterred, Emma returned with her sister in 2009 after revealing she’d been living in her car for seven weeks – sadly, it wasn’t to be on that occasion either.
Now, 15 years later, she’s issued a desperate plea for help after losing both of her parents in 2024, with her dad dying just 10 days before Christmas.
In a GoFundMe description, she wrote: ‘My dad was, lovely, caring respectful man. I miss [him] so much, so I would appreciate any help towards the funeral.
‘At this time, it’s really hard for me and to pay for it, and I really want my dad to have a good send off – any amount of money would be greatly appreciated, thank you all so much.’
She then revealed that she lost her 73-year-old mum in January of this year, with the family’s dog dying just 24 hours afterwards, on a heartbreaking day for the Chawner family.
‘I don’t have any family left,’ Emma added. ‘People that know me [know] I hate asking for help, but this time I have no choice.’
After appearing on The X Factor, she then went on Lorraine Kelly’s Big Fat Challenge, which eventually gave her the tools to lose 16 stone, saying that ‘online trolling’ inspired her to change her lifestyle.
The family, from Ramsbottom in Lancashire, all appeared on reality TV throughout the 2010s, including Nightmare Neighbours and The Jeremy Kyle Show.
In 2015, Audrey appeared to have left the family overnight, taking her clothes and an iPad and leaving her wedding ring and front door key behind.
At the time, Emma said on TheJeremy Kyle Show: ‘It was such a big shock. When we said “bye” to her [that day], she was completely normal. She was looking forward to Dad’s 60th birthday and their 29th wedding anniversary.’
It’s not known when Emma and Audrey patched things up, but she paid tribute to her mum after her death, writing on social media: ‘I’m just letting you all know my mum passed peacefully in her sleep at 4am this morning.’
X Factor legend says ‘I don’t have any family left’ in heartbreaking plea