Martin Bashir says his late brother’s memory convinced him to join ‘The X Factor: Celebrity’.
The 56-year-old journalist – best known for his interview with Princess Diana and his Neverland ranch documentary with Michael Jackson – is taking part in Simon Cowell’s talent show as a tribute to his older brother Tommy, who died from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) aged just 29 in 1991.
Speaking during Saturday night’s (12.10.19) episode of the singing competition, he says: "The real reason why I’m here is that I am one of five children and my precious brother Tommy was born with muscular dystrophy.
"When you grow up with a child and you fight over toys and you’re aged four and he never fights back and then by the time he is 13 he can’t feed himself, you feel that you have no excuse for turning down opportunities.
"Every time I have faced a challenge, I have heard him whispering, saying, ‘What excuse do you have? You have no excuse, you have never sung but someone has come to you and said give it a shot,’ and that is my motivation."
Martin auditioned at media mogul Simon’s house in front of judges Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger and industry experts, and he moved the audience with a jazz number after opening up about his late brother.
Also set to appear on the show’s launch are ‘The Chase’ quizzer Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan, David Hasselhoff’s model daughter Hayley and the ‘Love Island’ supergroup made up of 2018 stars Wes Nelson, Eyal Booker, Samira Mighty and Zara McDermott.
Martin Bashir says late brother inspired him to join X Factor: Celebrity
