‘THE world has been robbed of a potential superstar’. Those were the words of comic Jason Manford as friends and family paid tribute to Martyn Hett at the Manchester Arena Bombing inquiry.

The 29-year-old, an Altrincham PR manager and was a Coronation Street superfan with a huge social media following, was among the 22 victims of the May 2017 atrocity.

Pen portraits and tributes were paid to the winner of television show Come Dine with Me across two days this week,

Dad Paul Hett, step-mum Kath and brother Dan spoke on Monday while friends, work colleagues and mum Figen Murray and Stuart Murray appeared before the inquiry on Tuesday.

His mother Figen Murray, spoke during a moving video tribute, said: “He’s leaving this absolute massive gaping hole in my heart.

“They say time is a great healer, but I don’t think this is true. I love him so much and I miss him so, so much.”

During the hour-long proceedings there were tears with the funny and moving stories and tributes to Martyn, and how he dealt with homophobia.

His mum Figen said she missed his ‘cackle of laughter’ and the ability to ‘make everyone feel he was their best friend’.

Mr Murray recalled how the family had taken a photograph before he was setting off for a trip to

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America on May 24 and wondered whether they would be all able to get a photo together ye days later on May 22 the atrocity happened.

Mr Murray added: “Appearances on Come Dine with Me and Tattoo Fixers - and his status as a Coronation Street superfan and a Deirdre Barlow enthusiast - and his obsession with Mariah Carey were beginning to define him.”

Comedian Jason Manford urged people to ‘Be More Martyn’ and seize the moment like the Stockport man had.

He said: “If you click on the #bemoremartyn hashtag, you will literally see thousands of people from all over the world from all different walks of life of people Martyn has affected.

“Life is too short, and even for us who get to live it to it’s natural end but for Martyn he crammed more into that short life than most of us will in our hopefully long ones.”

Meanwhile on Monday morning, his father Paul remembered how he showcased a love for acting and performing from an early age, adding his “life was so vibrant, so full of energy”.

“He had the most wicked sense of humour,” Mr Hett said.

Social media manager Martyn, had a picture of Deirdre Barlow in prison tattooed on his leg, was a “Coronation Street super fan” with many of the cast attending his funeral.

“Ironically, sadly, this was one of the main reasons we were able to identify Martyn so soon after the tragedy - after all who else would have such a tattoo,” his father told the inquiry.

Suicide bomber Salman Abedi murdered the 22 victims and injured hundreds more after detonating a home-made bomb at the foyer of the arena on May 22, 2017.

The public inquiry is expected to last into next spring.