David Gest’s death on Tuesday at the age of 62 has left the showbiz world in shock.

The American music producer was best known in the UK for his reality TV appearances on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and Celebrity Big Brother, where he won legions of fans with name-dropping anecdotes and raucous tales of his showbiz friendships.

David Gest
David won over the nation with his I’m A Celebrity… stint (ITV/PA)

From his maid Vaginica Seaman to his mistaken death earlier this year, here are David’s most memorable moments:

His wedding to Liza Minnelli.

David Gest and Liza Minnelli
Guests included Mia Farrow and Martine McCutcheon (Dave Caulkin/AP/PA)

David was a well-respected music producer but he was catapulted into the spotlight with his lavish wedding to Hollywood royalty Liza Minnelli in 2002.

The day itself was the stuff of showbiz legend, featuring childhood pal Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor serving as best man and maid of honour respectively, and the couple’s passionate kiss at the altar prompting guest Donald Trump to say: “I have never seen a kiss like that before.”

Although the marriage only lasted a whirlwind 15 months, he joked earlier this year that his vast selection of daily pills for high blood pressure seen on Celebrity Big Brother was a hangover from the nuptials, “because life with Liza was not a cabaret!”

The tale of Vaginica Seaman.

David left his I’m A Celebrity campmates in stitches in 2006 as he spun a yarn about his housekeeper, whose name was apparently Vaginica Seaman.

“Her mother loved her own body part so much that she said if she ever had a girl she was going to name it Vaginica,” he told bemused campers Jason Donovan, Toby Anstis and Myleene Klass. ”And she married a man named Harry Seaman. Her name was Vaginica Seaman, no bull.”

The nation fell in love with David, but he finished fourth on the show losing to Busted’s Matt Willis, who he forged an unlikely friendship with. He later revealed Vaginica had retrained as a dermatologist, releasing her own line of skincare.

His Come Dine With Me win.

Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney helped serve canapes (Katy Winn/AP/PA)

Facing down former EastEnder Hannah Waterman, TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin and Loose Women presenter Sherrie Hewson, David pulled out all the stops to secure himself joint first place with Diarmuid as he greeted guests with a family of dwarf Santa Clauses and brought in Mickey Rooney to lead a gospel choir and serve canapes.

His half of the £1,000 prize money went to his charity of choice – Chinese Girls With Herpes.

His stint as a fish and chip shop worker in York.

David startled customers in 2011 when he hopped behind the counter of Drakes Fisheries in Low Petergate to serve up fish and chips and revealed he planned on making a home for himself in Yorkshire.

He had previously done something similar in London with Ruby Wax and wife Liza, as you do.

David later moved to Yorkshire, claiming he was drawn to the “old cobbles and the fudge shops” as well as relishing his friendship with former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

His This Is David Gest reality show.

David was granted his own documentary series in 2007, where Tito Jackson gave him a leg-up to break into MJ’s house, he spent the day with Cliff Richard, sang with Westlife and Louis Walsh and frolicked with dear friend Jackie Stallone.

Each hour was as much an insight into his bizarre life as that of his subjects.

Tiffany Pollard’s “David is dead” confusion.

David was the subject of a hilarious case of mistaken identity when Angie Bowie informed Tiffany that David – meaning her ex-husband Bowie – had died during their time in the Celebrity Big Brother House.

Tiffany broke down in tears believing David, who was having a nap at the time, had passed away. In a macabre twist before his actual death, David launched his upcoming UK tour titled David Gest Is Not Dead But Alive With Soul.