JOANNA CRAWLEY.-David Gest's funeral is attended by pregnant Kristina Rihanoff and his CBB pals Gemma Collins, Stephanie Davis and Jeremy McConnell in London following his death aged 62

David Gest's funeral is attended by pregnant Kristina Rihanoff and his CBB pals Gemma Collins, Stephanie Davis and Jeremy McConnell in London following his death aged 62

David Gest's funeral took place on Friday at Golders Green crematorium in London.

The star's celebrity friends were seen arriving for the service, including his Celebrity Big Brother housemates Kristina Rihanoff, Gemma Collins, Stephanie Davis, Jeremy McConnell and Christopher Maloney.

Following the service on Friday afternoon , the star's ashes are expected to be taken to York, where David had been living on and off since 2013.

Saying their goodbyes: David Gest's friends, including his Celebrity Big Brother housemates Kristina Rihanoff and Gemma Collins arrived at the funeral of David Gest on Friday, with the service held at Golders Green crematorium in London

Former The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma arrived at the service in black lace dress, closely followed by her Celebrity Big Brother housemates Jeremy McConnell and Stephanie Davis, who all starred with David on the Channel 5 show earlier this year.

Stephanie and Jeremy had jetted back from a holiday in Cape Verde earlier on Friday to attend the service of their close friend. 

Another CBB housemate Kristina Rihanoff was among the mourners, with the former Strictly Come Dancing pro, who is expecting her first child, greeting her ex housemates with a smile.

Dean Gaffney, David's close friend since they starred together on the 2006 series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here, dressed in a black suit and tie as he arrived with a female companion.

Gone but not forgotten: The 62-year-old producer was found dead in his hotel room at the Four Seasons in Canary Wharf, east London, on April 12

Keen to be there: Jeremy McConnell and Stephanie Davis arrived with their CBB co-star Darren Day after flying home from a holiday in Cape Verde earlier in the day

Former housemate: Ex Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff, another of David's CBB housemate, was also seen arriving

Saying their goodbyes: Dean Gaffney, Denise Welch and Christopher Maloney were also seen at the service 

Denise Welch meanwhile chose a vibrant red cape style coat for the service, flashing a smile.

Christopher, who lived with David in the Channel 5 Celebrity Big Brother house, was accompanied by a friend as he made his way inside.

The 62-year-old producer was found dead in his hotel room at the Four Seasons in Canary Wharf, east London, on April 12 and his friends and loved ones will gather for a 'celebration of his life' on Friday. 

A source said: 'David would have wanted something uplifting, so all his friends will be there to celebrate the joy and fun he brought to their lives.'

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Friends: Lizzie Cundy was among the guests, was the star often spotted with David during his regular nights out in London

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Service: David's funeral took place on Friday at Golders Green crematorium in London. Following the service on Friday afternoon, the star's ashes are expected to be taken to York, where David had been living on and off since 2013

Support: Lizzie hugged a fellow mourner as she chatted with David's friends and family outside the London crematorium 

The decision to take his ashes to York shouldn't come as a surprise to fans, with the reality television star previously saying of the Yorkshire city: 'I've lived in New York, Beverly Hills, I still have property in Hawaii, I lived in Claridge's for two years. But here it's so special.

'When you have the Minster, all other churches fade by comparison.

'It has an elite beauty and the people are so special. I think I'd like to die here.'

Reunited: Darren Day, who also starred on David's series of Celebrity Big Brother, hugged Christopher Maloney 

Reality show friend: Darren was joined by his wife Stephanie Dooley (centre)

Made an impact: While David had to leave the CBB house after just 13 days due to illness, he clearly made a big impact on his housemates

He had been staying in a London hotel for six months, however, it seems David was planning a permanent move to York before his tragic death.

The star had previously remarked that he was attracted to the picturesque city's 'old cobbles and fudge shops' and hoped to be buried there.

Speaking to The Mirror, the star's friend Barry Silkman said: 'Last week he went to York to move his things into the new place. He was constantly back and forth.

'He was ill with a viral ­infection but sounded fine.

Good friends: Dean Gaffney, David's close friend since they starred together on the 2006 series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here, dressed in a black suit and tie as he arrived with a female companion

Standing out: Denise Welch meanwhile chose a vibrant red cape style coat for the service

Silkman also dismissed claims that his friend was a gambling addict. Instead, another friend said that he'd been focusing all his attention on his upcoming tour, David Gest Is Not Dead But Alive With Soul.

The source told the Sunday People: 'We told him it was a bad idea to call [the tour] that. It felt like a curse. He thought it was hilarious.'

David also allegedly suggested dressing up as his 70-year-old ex-wife for his funeral 'as one final laugh'.

A source told The Sun: 'David had a wicked sense of humour and because of what happened in CBB he was talking a lot about death.'

The insider continued: 'During one conversation, he said he would want to be dressed as Liza to give all of us one final laugh.

'But he made it clear he wanted his life to be celebrated with the same sort of humour in which he lived it.'

David tied the knot with singer Liza in a £2.4million ceremony in New York 2002 with his childhood best friend Michael Jackson acting as best man.

Their tumultuous relationship saw explosive rows and they split 16 months later, before finally divorcing in 2007. 

One of the people who will among the congregation on Friday is Wayne Chadwick, who owns one of David's favourite eateries, York Roast Co.

Mr. Chadwick told York Press: 'It feels pretty special. We never got chance to properly thank the man for what he did for us. He did it all with his heart, he wasn't looking for any deals or discounts, nothing like that, he actually just loved what we did. That was it.

'It's a great shame. I think York took David in, really. If you went back quite a few years, people were very sceptical about him and people got to like him through the jungle ['I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!'], and 'Celebrity Big Brother', but I think in York, the fact he was utterly accessible, he never shirked people, and would speak to anyone was appreciated.' 

David's upcoming I'm Not Dead But Alive With Soul tour was thrown into doubt following his untimely death, but the variety show's stars have vowed to go ahead as planned.

The tour is fittingly due to begin at York's Barbican in July and will feature performances by the likes of Dina Carroll, The Stylistics' Russell Thompkins Jr and Deniece Williams.

Its unusual name was a play on a misunderstanding during the last series of Celebrity Big Brother, when housemate Tiffany Pollard wrongly thought David had died during filming. 

Imad Handi, who co-produced the tour, said: 'Just like myself, all the artists were devastated when they learned David had died.

'Over the years they had become like a family together due to their close working relationship and the musicians were determined to go ahead with the tour to remember David with their music.

'Although he was known for his reality TV appearances in the UK, he lived for hosting gigs and his soul reviews were always the highlight of his year. I did think about changing the name of the tour but then I decided to keep it as it is in keeping with David’s mischievous sense of humour.

'And also it’s true, he may sadly be gone but his spirit is alive in the music he loved.'