Stars turn out for final farewell to David Gest

Gest, 62, was a music producer and the former husband of Liza Minnelli. In recent years he had been a resident of York.

He was found dead in a five-star hotel in London on April 12.

Denise Welsh, Danniella Westbrook, Gemma Collins, Lizzie Cundy, Vanessa Feltz and Dean Gaffney were also among the mourners at his funeral at Golders Green Crematorium.

A wooden coffin with gold handles and adorned with white flowers arrived in a hearse for the ceremony.

A white floral display with a black musical note, a butterfly and the lyrics to Nat King Cole’s famous song rested alongside it.

Mourners embraced and talked quietly as they waited to go inside the chapel.

One attendee could be seen sobbing and was consoled by other guests.

The American TV personality gained a following in the UK for his appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and ITV’s Grease Is The Word.

He was married to Minnelli from 2002-2003 but they only officially divorced in 2007. He was also known for being a close friend of Michael Jackson.

Gest had been due to tour the country this summer in a musical show called David Gest Is Not Dead But Alive With Soul, a title referring to a misunderstanding in the CBB house.

The soul show will now go ahead in his honour.