Jeff Brazier left Celebrity Race Across The World viewers in tears on Wednesday when he revealed how the loss of his father helped him navigate parenting his own grieving sons.
The TV personality, 45, was just nine when his father Stephen Faldo died after a pleasure boat he was captain of, The Marchioness, was involved in a horrific collision on the Thames that resulted in 51 people losing their lives.
Meanwhile his sons Bobby, 21, and Freddie, 19, were even younger when their mum Jade Goody tragically died in 2009 aged 27 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Jeff never met his biological father, which he deeply regrets, and said as a result wanted to make sure his own sons had the experiences he would have liked with a dad.
Saying: ‘My experience in childhood probably really lent into how I’ve parented Bobby and Freddy. My mum, probably against everyone’s opinions decided to have me even though she was only 15-years-old so I’m forever grateful for that’.
Jeff Brazier, 45, left Celebrity Race Across The World viewers in tears on Wednesday when he revealed how the loss of his father helped him navigate parenting his own grieving sons
Bobby, 21 (L) and Freddie, 19 (R) were even younger when their mum Jade Goody tragically died in 2009 aged 27 after being diagnosed with cervical cancer
Jeff was just nine when his father Stephen Faldo died after a pleasure boat he was captain of was involved in a horrific collision on the Thames that resulted in 51 people losing their lives
‘I didn’t ever have the company of my biological dad, he died when I was nine. I always obviously regret never meeting him, so when it came to me being a dad I was always going to make sure that they had the experience of me that i would have liked to have had from him’.
He was speaking after attempting to teach Freddie the value of money as they worked selling lemonade on Copacabana Beach in Brazil.
Saying: ‘When I struggle with Freddie not taking responsibility sometimes I struggle with that cos i had no choice at a very age but thats not his fault’.
Earlier in the episode Freddie chocked back tears as he revealed having ‘no memories’ of late mum.
Admitting: ‘I lost my mum when I was four and that was on Mother’s Day, which is really hard. I don’t really like showing my emotions. I don’t even speak to my dad much about my mum either. I just avoid it. I prefer to bottle it up’.
‘I don’t want to feel like I’m a burden to them. A lot of my memories that I have of my mum have come from watching a documentary, YouTube clips, newspapers, they are not my memories’.
While choking back tears he continued: ‘I don’t really remember being held by my mum. If I had more memories of her, it would have made it a whole lot harder for me.
‘But I think I would rather that than not really remember the things that I had done with my mum. It’s just life really and I’ve kind of accepted that’.
Jeff never met his biological father, which he deeply regrets, and said as a result wanted to make sure his own sons had the experiences he would have liked with a dad
Saying: ‘My experience in childhood probably really lent into how I’ve parented Bobby and Freddy (R)
‘I didn’t ever have the company of my biological dad, I always obviously regret never meeting him, so when it came to me being a dad I was always going to make sure that they had the experience of me that i would have liked to have had from him’ (pictured 2009)
Viewers were left in tears and took to X writing: ‘Jeff losing his dad at 9 years old and Freddie losing his mum at the age of 4. They have both been through so much trauma’: ‘I love Jess so much. What a great man’: ‘Oh Freddie. Jeff and Freddie to win!’: ‘Jeff and Freddie for the win, the sweetest father/son journey and relationship’.
Earlier in the series Jeff spoke candidly about raising his boys after his ex’s death saying: ‘I think when the boys lost their mum I really doubled down on putting all of my time, effort, attention, focus on my children,’ Jeff said.
‘I needed to be there, helping them to navigate whatever the future was going to look like for them given their loss. And I’m still playing that role.
‘But yeah the more Fred does for himself, I know that he can start to push on in life.’
In a later scene, Jeff and Freddie were enjoying a short break to take in the breathtaking views when he did some self-reflection.
Earlier in the episode Freddie chocked back tears as he revealed having ‘no memories’ of late mum (pictured 2006)
Emotional viewers raced to X following the scenes
‘It’s hard to switch off and sometimes I think I’m being too serious,’ Jeff said. ‘Just everything is my responsibility, and it has been for such a long time, because I think as a man you probably don’t rate your chances of coping, so you do what comes naturally to you which is to take all the responsibility and just focus on the situation.
‘I have absolutely 100 per cent lost the ability to play but I think that it’s something that i need to regain. I think I need Freddie to show me really, and I need to get back to… I need to get back to what I used to be. I’m sure that’s possible.’
The father-son duo shared a sweet moment as Freddie convinced his dad to relax and leave the bags downstairs while they admired the view. Jeff went upstairs to find his son sitting down with a dog.
‘I just wanted you to know that you’re absolutely right,’ Jeff told his son. ‘I need to get better at just relaxing.’
Freddie: ‘After this trip I feel like things could be a lot better than they have been.’
