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BGT Semi-Finals Star Dies Aged 59 After Five-Year Cancer Battle
The 59-year-old former Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist had eye cancer that spread to his liver, and had been given 12 months to live.
On Friday, June 19, 2026, 59-year-old comedian and Baptist minister Allan Finnegan died following a five-year cancer battle. His family announced the death on Instagram on Father's Day, remembering him as an "amazing, caring and funny" man.
Finnegan, a Bootle native, balanced his ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church with a stand-up comedy career, reaching the 2020 semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent where judge Alesha Dixon called him a "breath of fresh air."
After experiencing vision "flashes" in 2022, Finnegan received an ocular melanoma diagnosis; a GoFundMe appeal funded innovative treatments that granted him precious time with his family and grandson, Albie.
Surrounded by his wife, Joyce, and daughters, Rachael and Beckie, Finnegan died peacefully on Friday evening as Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" played in his final moments.
In recent months, Finnegan released a book charting his journey from church minister to comedian and cancer patient, leaving a legacy of faith balanced with humor that continues to inspire tributes.