Vinnie Jones was forced to pull out of ITV's Celebrity X Factor tonight after the tragic death of his wife Tanya.
When the the second round of auditions aired tonight, Dermot O'Leary confirmed that one of the contestants was missing for "personal reasons".
He didn't say who it was, but the only star in the line-up who is yet to make an appearance is Vinnie, 54.
Dermot said: "I'm sure you know there's only 14 acts here; eight of you have already sung, six are left to perform but unfortunately we have one more act who couldn't be here today for personal reasons."
Tanya passed away from cancer around the time the auditions for Celebrity X Factor were being filmed.
While ITV are yet to comment on whether Vinnie will take part, he has vowed to return and win the show.
A source told the Mirror: “Vinnie has been in talks with Simon Cowell and the show for a long time. Simon’s been very supportive through the whole thing.
“Tanya loved the programme and wanted Vinnie to do it. But he has been grieving since she passed away and has been going through a very tough time.
"He has spent the past month weighing it all up and bosses are expecting him to join the show for live auditions.”
The ex-Leeds, Chelsea and Wimbledon star has had a pop at music before – making a covers album called Respect in 2002.
Tanya died at the age of 53 at her Los Angeles home on Saturday July 6 after a long battle with cancer.
Back in 2013, Vinnie revealed that both he and Tanya were suffering from melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
Tanya, who had undergone an emergency heart transplant at the age of 21, had already been treated for cervical cancer twice.
Vinnie found a lump under his eye and a check-up revealed he had malignant melanoma.
Tanya then developed the same illness and they fought it together.
