Jeff Brazier has some regrets about his journey as a father, admitting to making mistakes while raising sons Freddy and Bobby.
The TV presenter, 47, is a proud father to former Strictly Come Dancing and EastEnders star Bobby, 23, and Race Across the World’s Freddy, 21. He took on solo parenting duties when they were still small children following the death of their mother and Jeff’s former partner, Jade Goody, in 2009.
However, the family has been rocked by turmoil in recent years, with Jeff taking legal action against Goody’s mother, Jackiey Budden, to prevent her from seeing Freddy. The model had moved in with his maternal grandmother but checked into rehab after being spotted smoking a joint with Jackiey, later revealing he had become addicted to smoking since he was 12.
Then came perhaps the biggest life change for Freddy as he learned in 2025 that he was set to become a father, welcoming daughter Isla Jade in March this year. However, Freddy’s relationship with the child’s mother, Holly Swinburn, was rocky and the two split soon after.
Reflecting on his parenting, Jeff has now said: ‘You always look back with hindsight and feel like, “If only I was the version of myself I am today 20 years ago, how much of a better experience of me they would have had”.’
He added to the Sun on Sunday: ‘Maybe that might have eliminated some of the bumps in the road we’ve had . . . you look at the things you could have done better.’
However, the This Morning presenter is using those ‘mistakes and all the lessons and the learnings’ to guide his relationship with his granddaughter, Isla.
‘The strength of connection you can have with a grandchild is really special,’ he admitted.
‘With Isla, it just feels natural, effortless and easy, and there’s no complications around it.’
Freddy and Bobby are now on their own paths and have left the family home, and Jeff revealed he suffered ‘absolute grief’ when they both moved out.
Appearing to shun life in the spotlight, Freddy recently revealed that he’s taken up labour work such as carpentry and plumbing around London and Essex. He told his Instagram followers: ‘Been doing and learning a few Trades with @mm_renovations.ltd.’
Meanwhile, Bobby has continued with his modelling work and recently starred in a Gucci advert alongside Kate Moss. Fans were initially concerned when he casually claimed he’d been arrested after a night of partying, but it was then revealed to be a cheeky quip related to the fashion campaign.
‘Wild night, got arrested, officers wives liked the way I dance so they let me go, wild night,’ Bobby captioned the post.
As for Jeff, he’s optimistic about finding love again after splitting from wife Kate Dwyer after seven years of marriage in 2025. He has spoken highly of his former spouse, expressing how much ‘love and gratitude’ he still has for her, but is now hopeful he can find another soulmate in the future.