Former boxer Chris Eubank was left in tears on last night’s Scared of the Dark (April 16), when he spoke about the tragic death of his son. The star opened up after actor Chris McCausland enquired if he lost his son recently.
Sebastian, one of the former boxer’s five children, died in 2021 at the age of just 29 after suffering a heart attack while swimming in the sea off the coast of Dubai. Chris, 56, relied: “It’s always going to be recent.
“He was everything. He was me. Poet, philosopher, lover, protector, a man of love. He was me. Things he did, he was magnificent. My son was, is, an inspiration and will always be an inspiration.”
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Chris later goes into The Vault, where the show’s contestants - who include Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt and another former boxer Nicola Adams - can speak to producers. “Your son.... they never leave you, ever,” he said. “They are always with you. Always.
“My son Sebastian is much more than I could ever explain to you. The tragedy of losing a son who’s 29, imagine crying that hard, and then months later being grateful that you cried that hard for your son. It wasn’t one tear, it was an ocean.”
Sebastian followed his father into the ring fighting in light-heavyweight bouts and started competing in Mixed Martial Arts. He had just welcomed a son with his wife Salma when he died in July, 2021.
The five part series Scared of the Dark continues throughout this week at 9pm on Channel 4. In the opening hour-long episode the eight contestants and host Danny Dyer say “f***” a total of 90 times as they tried to cope with living for up to eight days in the pitch black.
Both host Danny and former footballer Paul Gascoigne have discussed having difficulties with Chris during recording of the series. Dyer also suggested Eubank struggles to see eye-to-eye with some of his fellow celebrities. While explaining the relationship between Eubank and fellow boxer Nicola Adams, Dyer said: “He’s the ‘Sheriff of Chivalry’, I believe, whatever the f*** that is!
“They’re very different people, Nicola Adams is a very, very, very sweet woman. You’d think they’d bond, but they don’t. They don’t really gravitate towards each other. And so, Chris does struggle. And again, he’s brilliant in telly, you need him to bring his madness and he doesn’t like swearing, and the others, including the host, swear like a f****** trooper.”
Scared of The Dark saw Eubank and Adams joined by Love Island star Chloe Burrows, former professional footballer Paul Gascoigne, The Wanted singer Max George, comedian Chris McCausland, TV personality Scarlett Moffatt and actress Donna Preston.
The contestants entered a purpose-built living space designed to block out any light and rigged with 50 infrared cameras. While discussing how he prepared for the show, Eubank explained: “My entire life has been my preparation. It’s no different at all.
"What you call different is an illusion. I’m a man. I’m not a child any more. So you think like a man. You think like the person your mother taught you to be. They taught me to be a king and so that’s what I am.”
Eubank also said he does not expect to face difficulties during the process as a result of his life in the public eye, adding: “I don’t understand difficulties. I’ve overcome all of the difficulties. Look at what they’ve written about me over the years. Look at the lies that has been said about me.
“My response to all negative comments about me from 1989, since I’ve been in the public eye, I’ve dealt with it like a gentleman. When they hated me, I never hated them. I’ve always loved everyone irrespective.”
The show will see the celebrities attempt to get to grips with living in the dark and complete a series of challenges to attempt to win some respite time in the light. To leave The Bunker the celebrities must shout “I’m scared of the dark” after which they will be escorted into the light.
Clinical psychiatrist Dr Tharaka Gunarathne will watch over the celebrities during their time in the experiment and observe their behaviour with Dyer.
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