BREAKING NEWS: Heartbroken Alexandra Burke announces death of her Soul II Soul singer mother Melissa Bell aged just 53
- 53-year-old, from London, passed away after a long battle with kidney failure
- Burke said her mother would want her to continue on Strictly Come Dancing
- A statement from the Burke family said Bell died on August 28 and paid tribute to her 'unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage'
Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell has died, her daughter Alexandra Burke has revealed today.
The 53-year-old, from London, passed away after a nine-year battle with kidney failure, which was brought on by diabetes.
Strictly Come Dancing contestant and former X Factor winner, Burke, added her mother, who was a member of the Grammy-winning group, would have wanted her to continue on with the competition show.
A statement from the Burke family said Bell died on August 28 and paid tribute to her 'unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage'.
Soul II Soul singer Melissa Bell (right) has died, her daughter Alexandra Burke has said
A statement from the Burke family said Bell died on August 28 and paid tribute to her 'unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage'
Strictly Come Dancing contestant and former X Factor winner, Burke, added her mother, who was a member of the Grammy-winning group, would have wanted her to continue on with the competition show
Burke wrote on Twitter: 'Mummy has always been my biggest supporter and was over the moon when I told her I was doing Strictly.
'It was always a dream of hers that I would one day be part of the show and I know that she would have wanted me to carry on xx.'
The family said: 'It is with the heaviest and saddest of hearts that the family inform you our beautiful, funny and loving mum, Melissa Bell has passed away.
'Our beautiful mother gained her wings on Monday 28th of August 2017, a day that has changed our lives forever.
'We will never forget her unconditional love, support, charisma, strength and courage throughout her life.
'We are eternally proud and thankful to call her our mummy.
'We would be grateful if you could respect our privacy at this difficult time.'
Melissa Bell was the lead singer for Soul II Soul for their hit single 'Wish'
Alexandra Burke singing with her soul singer mother Melissa Bell in 2009
In 2013, Burke revealed that she had been looking after her mother, who was on life-saving dialysis eight hours a day.
Burke bought her mum food and spent £20,000 renovating her house so she could have the dialysis treatment there rather than in hospital.
She also began to raise the profile of organ donation after Ms Bell refused to take her daughter's.
Ms Bell said that asking her famous daughter to give away a kidney would be 'downright wicked and selfish'
In a joint interview four years ago, Burke said: 'I’ve tried three or four times. But Mum made the choice and shut down the discussion because the doctors said it could mean I wouldn’t be able to conceive.
'She didn’t want to restrict me from having my own life. But I was willing to adopt because I want to do that anyway.'
Ms Bell said that asking her famous daughter to give away a kidney would be 'downright wicked and selfish'.
Burke responded by telling her, 'I don’t think it would be a selfish choice. It’s been offered to you. I’m your daughter. Take it!'
The former X Factor winner was inspired by her mother and said she wanted to be a singer ever since she saw her mother on Top Of The Pops.
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