(Picture: Ian West/PA)
Jeff Brazier has revealed that he ‘needs and misses’ his late ex Jade Goody more than ever in an emotional interview, saying he’s ‘doing his best to cope’.
The TV presenter, 45, shared sons Freddy, 20, and Strictly star Bobby, 21, with the late Big Brother star, who died in 2009 from cervical cancer at the age of 27.
After claims that Jeff is taking legal action in a bid to prevent Freddy from seeing Jade’s mother, Jackiey Budden, Jeff has opened up on grief after raising his sons since Jade’s tragic death 16 years ago.
Speaking to The Sun, the This Morning star said: ‘To lose the mother of your children is a huge trauma that, of course, shapes your life. It comes down to the fact that we need her.
‘It’s not just about missing her — we need her as a mother at the moment, and we always have done, in all honesty. I think sometimes it’s termed that she is missed and we’re doing our best to cope.’
He admitted: ‘Sometimes, you have no choice but to look at it and realise we need her at this point.’
It comes after Jackiey, 68, hit out at Jeff after it was reported that he no longer wants his son to see his maternal grandmother.
Not mincing her words, she repeatedly lashed out at Jeff, calling him a ‘c***’ several times when speaking to the Daily Mail last month.
She then went on to share: ‘I know what this is all about. It (the situation with Jeff) doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.’
‘Do I want to see Freddy? Of course I do. I see Freddy all of the time. I will see him.’
Speaking to the publication, one of her neighbours added: ‘I feel sorry for Jackiey. She’s been through so much. It’s a complex situation. I just hope they can be all together again as a family. Her grandchildren mean the world to her.’
‘How did it come to this that lawyers are apparently involved? She wants to be the best gran she can be to those boys.’
According to reports Jeff hired a leading barrister for an upcoming hearing.
‘This is something Jeff and anyone who cares about Freddy hopes will help keep Freddy safe from a relationship that has been incredibly detrimental to his wellbeing for a long time now,’ a source told the publication.
‘The fact that he is going down this route shows how concerned we all our and how our efforts to keep Fred safe are being grossly undermined by other people.’
Things appear to have been hostile between Jeff and Jackiey for years.
In 2023 she branded him a ‘c***’ after she claimed she had to buy her own ticket to the National Television Awards to see Bobby win the Rising Star award.
When arriving at the event she was asked about her relationship with Jeff, to which she simply replied: ‘He’s a c***. He has been one for nine f***ing years.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.