IT was supposed to be a chance for some serious father-son bonding – as well as a boost for all their careers.
But the cameras haven’t even started rolling yet, and the Brazier family reality show has been left in tatters. Here, pals tell us how the relationship between, and Freddy is hanging on by a thread, leaving those closest to the family worried about how it will all play out.
Jeff Brazier was said to be blindsided when his sons agreed to do a reality show without himCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Freddy and Bobby still plan to make a show together – just without JeffCredit: Getty
While Jeff made the decision to walk away from the no-holds-barred show after a series of bust-ups between them all, the boys are still keen to go full steam ahead.
And we’re told it hasn’t gone down well with Jeff, 46, who is said to see himself as the ‘dadager’ of the family and the driving force behind both Bobby, 22, and 21-year-old Freddy’s careers.
An insider explained: “Jeff thought he was doing the right thing by pulling out of the show. He was surprised to hear that Bobby and Freddy are considering doing it without him. He was actually pretty blindsided when he found out and is struggling to understand why they even want to do it without him.
“The thing he doesn’t get is that the boys are actually bigger stars than him now; it’s a hard pill to swallow. They have a lot going on, and it would make great TV.
“The boys are moving on to bigger things, and Jeff is being left behind
“His career has taken a hit recently, and this is just the latest blow. He’s pretty fuming about it all. The last thing he wants is to cause another fallout. They are already all walking on eggshells as it is.”
Channel executives were interested in documenting the Brazier family’s lives after a year of dramas and fallouts.
Jeff, who had Bobby and Freddy with late star , raised the boys after her death from in 2009.
For years, little was seen of the boys, while Jeff remained fairly regular on TV, but once they were old enough, it became clear that they would follow in the footsteps of their parents and be in the limelight.
Bobby’s career has soared on , and on the catwalk. It’s been tougher for Freddy, 21, who has struggled to find his place and has had issues with drugs, but his appearance on Race Across The World with dad Jeff last year proved he was TV gold.
But behind the scenes, tensions between them all started to grow, and their relationship has been, without a doubt, rocky.
over his close bond with his maternal grandmother, Jackiey Budden.
He launched legal action to block Freddy from seeing Jade’s mum, 68, – accusing her of being a bad influence.
He reluctantly backed down in the row and vowed to mend his relationship with Freddy,
And the family pulled together after the news that Freddy’s ex
Reality TV gold
With TV producers desperate to capture Freddy’s parenting journey on camera, it is no surprise they are ploughing on with the reality series.
Sources told us that the recent clashes with his sons, particularly Freddy, made the project untenable for Jeff, and he pulled out.
An insider said: “Jeff had a change of heart after a series of rows with Freddy. He also thought a reality show wouldn’t do the family any good.
“But the boys think otherwise. They have been through so much, and they didn’t want to let this opportunity pass by.
“They’re facing this together as a team, and it has actually brought them closer together after months of tough times.”
While the boys are headed for even more success, Jeff has been facing the strain.
Last year was particularly tough for him – just before Christmas, he revealed he had split from and was already living apart from his
The bitter, fraught and a all seemed to slowly chip away at his picture-perfect image.
Jeff made the decision to walk away from the show before filming even startedCredit: Instagram/katebrazierpr
Freddy’s telly career has only just started, while dad Jeff has been around for yearsCredit: Homeserve
And having his troubles play out in public is said to have put Jeff under intense pressure – as he desperately attempts to hold on to his family-friendly reputation.
He cracked on live telly – leaving TV bosses gobsmacked after treating Ruth “appallingly” on when he told her off for eating up his air time.
He’s a reality TV star desperate to cling on to fame.
Insider
Jeff was blasted as “so rude and unprofessional” as the excruciating moment aired – and fans saw a new side to the star.
A source close to the family said at the time: “Jeff’s always been someone to look up to – a struggling single dad mourning the loss of Jade and just trying to make ends meet to bring up the boys.
“Yes, there have been whispers that he’s a reality TV star desperate to cling on to fame, but he’s always put his sons first – and the past year has been incredibly difficult for him to deal with.
“Work is usually something he thrives in, but the awkward encounter during the competition has shown all’s not well.
“It may have been a poorly delivered joke or the mask slipping. Either way, it’s not done him any favours.”
TV slump
A year before meeting legend Jade, Jeff had his big break on reality TV while appearing on Shipwrecked in 2001.
He also starred in the first series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.
The couple became parents to Bobby Jack in 2003 and then Freddy in 2004, but split after two years together.
The year after Jade’s death, Jeff competed on Dancing On Ice, as well as The Jump, when the boys were older.
He has been presenting ITV’s competitions on daytime shows , and Loose Women on and off since 2006, but is often replaced by well-known or Big Brother stars who have massive followings online.
The slump in telly work led Jeff to retrain as a life coach and grief counsellor – before writing a book called The Grief Survival Guide to give advice following Jade’s death.
Jeff looked after Bobby and Freddy following the death of their mum JadeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Jeff split from his wife Kate last year – she had helped raise the boysCredit: Instagram
Freddy and Bobby have remained mostly close throughoutCredit: Splash
Last year saw him return to reality TV as he starred on documentary Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps.
Our source added: “Jeff is one of the most fame-hungry people on TV. He has been fame-hungry his whole life since he bagged a place on Shipwrecked and then The Farm on .
“It’s why Jackiey, Jade Goody’s mum, dislikes him because she knows what the real Jeff is like and she’s been desperate to expose him for what he really is.”
It was therefore particularly surprising when he suddenly pulled out of the new family show, which is said to have left ITV bosses fuming.
But as the boys plough on, what’s next for Jeff? It’s not long until he becomes a grandad, which might be the right time for him to hand the Brazier baton of fame on, however hard he finds it.
Jade tragically died in 2009 after a battle with cervical cancerCredit: Getty
Bobby has an impressive modelling career alongside his actingCredit: Getty Inside Bobby Brazier's burgeoning TV career
Bobby Brazier has risen through the ranks to become a well known face on British TV.
As the son of and , he has been well-known amongst the public from a young age.
first embarked on a showbiz career when he was just 16-years old when he started modelling.
The star made his catwalk debut in 2020 at Milan Fashion Week, but it wasn’t long before he had his eyes on a TV career.
He shot to prominence in 2022 when he was cast as Freddie Slater in .
The incredibly acting skills displayed on screen earned him the in the ‘Rising Star’ category.
His famous dad was in tears as Bobby accepted the award on stage in front of the likes of and
It wasn’t long before BBC bosses wanted him to take part in the 21st series of .
He clearly impressed the viewers with his dancing skills as he made the grand final and was a runner-up.
Since then, viewers were delighted when he returned to his role in the long-running soap. He left for good at the end of last year.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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