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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Dominique Hines

Strictly's Bobby Brazier and dad Jeff discuss Jade Goody's death ahead of Celebrity Gogglebox debut

Strictly's Bobby Brazier and his TV presenter father Jeff have discussed the impact of Jade Goody's death on their family ahead of Celebrity Gogglebox special.

The pair star in the Channel 4 show's Stand Up To Cancer special on Friday night to raise funds for the cancer charity.

Bobby, 20, was only five-years-old when his reality TV star mother Goody died aged 27, following a battle with cervical cancer. His brother Freddie, now 19, was four. Brazier and Goody had split five years before she died.  

Speaking about their decision to support Stand Up To Cancer, Jeff, 44, explained that it was a cause "incredibly close" to their hearts. 

"We understand first-hand the impact cancer has on families," he said. "Doing Celebrity Gogglebox for Stand Up To Cancer is supporting a cause that's incredibly close to our hearts. 

The pair has shared how Goody's death impacted their family (Channel 4)

"Cancer affects so many lives, and it's crucial to keep raising awareness and funds for research..." 

Bobby added: "I'm really looking forward to being on Celebrity Gogglebox with my dad. 

"It's for a great cause, I can't wait to just sit down in front of the TV and relax for once. It's been a long time since we've sat in front of the TV and done nothing together."

After their mother's death, Bobby and Freddie went to live with Jeff who raised them away from the public eye as a single father. He wed PR executive Kate Dwyer in 2018, who the brothers have praised for helping to raise them.

Jade Goody with Bobby (L) and his brother Freddy (R) (PA Archive)

Despite being firmly away from the cameras growing up Bobby landed a role in EastEnders last year, where he plays Freddie Slater, the son of Maureen “Little Mo” Slater.

The character of Freddie was last seen in Walford in May 2006 when he and Maureen left to start a new life.

He is also now a fan favourite as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. 

Bobby, who has said he doesn't have many memories of his Big Brother star mother "because I was so young when she died", has also admitted she did give him a yearning for fame, which he says he dreamt about from a young age.

"I think that as a kid it's all I wanted," he told Grazia, last month. "I was desperate for that when I was younger. 

"I spent so much time making myself ready because I started to believe that could happen and I could have that."

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