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Joe Longthorne death: Veteran singer and entertainer dies at Blackpool home, aged 64

‘Joe died in his bedroom, laying in the arms of his devoted husband of 21 years Jamie,’ a statement said

Roisin O'Connor
Saturday 03 August 2019 12:11 BST
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Joe Longthorne performs on 'The Entertainers'

Entertainer, singer and impressionist Joe Longthorne has died at the age of 64.

A statement on his website said Longthorne, who was born in Hull, died in the arms of his husband Jamie at their home in Blackpool.

“Joe died in his bedroom, laying in the arms of his devoted husband of 21 years Jamie, with his rosary beads clutched tight to his chest,” the statement read. ”He leaves behind sister Ann and brother John.”

Born to a travelling background, Longthorne started in the entertainment business at an early age after winning a local talent contest.

He made regular appearances on the ITV series Junior Showtime in 1969 until he turned 16, receiving his big break on the broadcaster’s series Search for a Star in 1981 after a stint on the club circuit.

However, when Longthorne was at the height of his fame in 1989, he was diagnosed with the blood cancer, lymphoma.

“Cancer is not a word you expect to hear when things are going so well,” he later said. “I felt invincible and suddenly out of the blue I felt helpless. I had two choices – to give in or fight.

“I chose the latter. I got up, dusted myself off and got on with life.”

Longthorne released several albums in the Nineties, and continued to perform to live audiences despite a later diagnosis of leukaemia – and even after further complications in 2005, after a bone marrow transplant.

He was awarded the MBE for charitable services in 2012.

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