Britain’s Got Talent star Paul Potts had fans rallying round with support after he shared a devastating announcement online
Joe Crutchley Screen Time reporter
07:54, 05 Feb 2026
Britain’s Got Talent’s Paul Potts flooded with support as he shares heartbreaking loss (Image: ITV)
Britain’s Got Talent winner Paul Potts has been inundated with support after sharing a heartbreaking post online.
The Welsh opera singer shot to fame when he appeared on the ITV competition show way back in 2007. A mobile phone salesman at the time, Paul took to the stage in front of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Piers Morgan and belted out his rendition of Nessun Dorma.
Paul went on to win the show after earning more public votes than his fellow finalist, young singer Connie Talbot. Since then, he has continued his incredible singing career and even appeared on America’s Got Talent: The Champions in 2019.
Away from the stage, though, Paul is loved-up with his wife Julie-Ann, whom he married in 2003. However, recently, Paul and Julie-Ann were hit with heartbreak after their dog died.
Paul has been left heartbroken(Image: ITV)
Taking to his Instagram this week, Paul shared a slew of sweet snaps of their beloved pup. He wrote in the caption: “Two days ago we had to say goodbye to Hunter. I am away in Denmark, so he passed to the rainbow Bridge while I was performing in Sonderborg. Julz had the unenviable job of making the decision.
“He’d had thyroid issues for years and was riddled with arthritis (which wasn’t picked up in a check-up last year), which was causing him a lot of pain and caused a sudden and quickly increasing limp. Rest well, cheeky howling dog. Most mornings, he did a reasonable impression of a wolf seeing a full moon.”
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Paul’s followers soon rushed to the comments section to share their support. One person wrote: “So sorry to hear this and sending so much love.” Another added: “Run free, dear Hunter! I’m so sorry for your loss.”
A third chimed in: “My heart is heavy for your incredible loss. May Hunter enjoy the Rainbow Bridge with the rest of our fur babies.” Someone else wrote: “Rest in peace, Hunter. I am so sorry for your loss.”
Their dog sadly died(Image: PA)
Paul first met his future wife, Julie-Ann, in an online chatroom in 2001, before they married two years later. Speaking to The Mirror, Julie-Ann previously said: “There was an attraction between us.
“He was exactly the way he was in the chatroom. I thought he was very attractive, and it just went from there. It was quite a short engagement.”
She then recalled: “We were staying at a Travel Inn hotel in Bristol on Christmas Eve when Paul presented me with an engagement ring. I was so thrilled – how can you top that for a Christmas present?”
Potts has managed to keep his personal life very private, so not much is known about his wife and family.