Britain’s Got Talent Star Janey Cutler dies aged 82
Britain’s Got Talent singer Janey Cutler has died, aged 82.
The gran, who made it to the finals of the TV talent show with a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s Non Je Regrette Rein, slipped away in her sleep.
Last night, her family paid tribute to Janey and said that, like her BGT song, she “had no regrets” about her life.
Her son Drew, 43, of Newarthill, Lanarkshire said: “Mum was the light of our lives.
“She was a brilliant mum, granny and great-granny who lived for her family, friends and her dog Tara, who was with her when she died.
“We were all devastated because we weren’t expecting it. She was always very happy and healthy and very rarely got ill.”
Drew, who found his mum dead in her bed, added: “Recently, she had suffered a virus and had been under the weather. But in the past few days, she had been feeling better and back to her old self.”
As well as wowing the judges on last year’s Britain’s Got Talent with her “spine-tingling” performance, Janey, from Wishaw, attracted more than 700,000 hits on You Tube.
She also toured the UK with the other BGT finalists. And there were predictions that she would follow in the footsteps of Scots singing sensation Susan Boyle and become a huge star.
But pub singer Janey turned her back on fame to spend time with her family. Before she ditched the limelight, she recorded an album with a group of seven Chelsea Pensioners.
On the album, she sang Men In Scarlet with Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins and Dame Vera Lynn.
Janey is survived by seven children, 13 grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.
Drew said: “She didn’t get into singing till later in life but she loved it. She could light up a room and bring tears to eyes.
“She didn’t want to be famous, she just wanted to sing.
“She loved life and just like she used to sing – she had no regrets.”
Janey’s close friend Terry Moore, 62, of Hamilton, who played keyboards and supported her with backing tracks at auditions, said: “Janey was a very special, talented lady.”
