Singer Roberts, who has lost nine stone, told The Sun that his friendship with Only Way Is Essex reality TV star James Argent could have saved his life.
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© THAMES/SYCO
"I lost the weight when a doctor told me I was close to a heart attack," he said. "I weighed 25st when I was 19 and now I weigh 16st."
"Arg took me to boot camp with him and it was an amazing experience," the 25-year-old continued.
"I met Arg a few years ago through Amy Childs and he loved my voice. We did talk about working together at the time. I can see us doing a swing duet one day."
Roberts also disclosed that he made a cameo on TOWIE last year, adding that he hopes to land a starring role in the ITV2 show.
"There was no warning, I just got a call out of the blue. So hopefully in the new series it will happen again," he added.
Tony Roberts appeared on The X Factor in 2006, passing the first audition but failing to make it past the last 14.
> James 'Arg' Argent: 'I've only had sex with one girl'
Watch Tony Roberts covering Stevie Wonder's 'Sir Duke (I Can Feel It All Over)' below:
