Vinnie Jones promises to donate Celebrity X Factor money to hospitals that treated late wife Tanya
VINNIE Jones will donate his Celebrity X Factor fee to the hospitals that treated his late wife Tanya.
The 54-year-old actor was fast-tracked to the live shows after missing the audition stages due to his long-time spouse's death.
Taking to Twitter yesterday, the former footballer said he was "ready to rock n roll" after being invited to take part in the live shows and had some special plans for the prize money.
He wrote: "I've decided any proceeds of a record contract from X-factor will go to Harefield hospital and Cedars Sinai.
"NOW im ready to Rock n Roll ."
Last Saturday's episode saw host Dermot O'Leary tell viewers that Vinnie was unable to make the auditions because his wife had passed just a few days prior.
The Mean Machine star was left devastated when Tanya lost her six-year cancer battle in July.
She had successfully fought two cases of cervical cancer before being diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
Announcing her death, Vinnie's spokesman told The Sun: "At 8.46am local time in Los Angeles on Saturday July 6, Vinnie Jones‘ wife, Tanya Jones, passed away after a long illness.
“Tanya passed peacefully at the Jones family home surrounded by Vinnie, their daughter and other family members.
“Vinnie and the family ask for privacy while they go through an understandable period of mourning during this devastating time.”
A source said her condition had worsened over the last few weeks.
The timing meant that Vinnie was grieving during the X Factor: Celebrity's audition stages, with judge Simon Cowell later putting him straight through to the live shows.
Calling him from his LA home, he said: "We’d love you to be on the live shows this year, we’d welcome you and give you all the help you need."
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Vinnie said he'd "be honoured" to take part because his wife wanted him to.
He explained: "We are just getting through it, you just learn to carry the grief really Simon.
"Well Tan’s pushed me really Simon, we knew it was all going on, and I put it to the family and Tan was very excited about it."
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