Celebrity Big Brother's Gemma Collins spoke to co-star David Gest just hours before he died
David Gest appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in January 2016, just three months before he died of a stroke.
Gemma Collins spoke to David Gest just hours before he died.
The pair formed a close friendship while living together in the Celebrity Big Brother house in January 2016, just three months before the TV personality died of a stroke at age 62 after being found dead in his room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf, London, on April 12.
He and Gemma regularly spoke on the phone, and the night before his passing, David called the reality TV icon from his hotel room as she made her way to a gig, making an unusual request.
In a clip shared on Big Brother's Instagram account on Sunday (11.10.26), celebrity houseguest Gemma, 45, told some housemates: "He called me the night before he died.
"I was going to the Adele concert, and he was living in the hotel at Canary Wharf.
"So he rang me, and he said, 'Gemma.' I said, 'Yes, David.' And he said, 'Can we go to Taco Bell? I've seen there's one in London.'
"And I said, 'Alright, I'm going to Adele. I'm going to call you after the concert. I'm going to come to your hotel, we'll have a cup of tea. I'll come back tomorrow.'"
After watching the Rolling in the Deep hitmaker perform, Gemma phoned David, but he did not answer, so she assumed he had "fallen asleep".
The Only Way Is Essex alum never got to speak or see her friend again.
Remembering David, Gemma said: "He had the best stories I've ever heard in my life.
"He was a nice, nice man."
In July 2016, the producer was set to embark on a UK tour called David Gest Is Not Dead But Alive With Soul Tour!
The name referenced a mix-up during the 2016 series of Celebrity Big Brother when actress Angie Bowie, now 77, told TV personality Tiffany Pollard, now 44, that David - meaning her ex-husband Bowie - died while they were on the show, with Tiffany crying, thinking it was Gest, who was ill in bed at the time.
Gest left the then-Channel 5 show after 13 days on medical grounds.
His friend and ex-bodyguard Imad Handi confirmed David's death in a statement, which read: "It is with great sadness that I can confirm that David Gest has died today.
"David was truly larger than life. He was not just a huge talent and a dear friend but a showbiz icon.
"I know he will be missed by millions of fans around the world, and particularly in Britain, who came to love his charm and blistering one-liners.
"If I may steal the words of one eminent critic, David was a natural star and a genuine celebrity. I will miss him desperately."
Taking to Twitter - now called X - Gemma paid tribute to her friend, saying: "Absolutely beside myself David Guest I love you so much so so sad to hear this will never forget you X the phone calls I will miss so much RIP (sic)."
