Jeff Brazier has revealed that he and his son Freddie signed up for the latest series of Celebrity Race Across The World in a bid to help the teenager find “greater self-esteem”.
The 45-year-old TV host spoke during Monday’s opening episode, where he recalled seeing his son “struggle” in the past.
Jeff shares sons Freddie, 19, and Bobby, 21, with the late Big Brother legend Jade Goody, who died in 2009 at the age of 27 after a battle with cervical cancer.
Revealing that his youngest son was still alive and despite being “cute”, Jeff said he would soon need an “exit plan”, while Bobby admitted: “I still need my daddy.”
Jeff then told the camera during a candid moment, “I’ve seen my son struggle, I know what he needs is a greater sense of purpose, self-worth and confidence.”
Jeff Brazier, 45, has revealed that he and his son Freddie signed up for the latest series of Celebrity Race Across The World in a bid to help the 19-year-old find “greater self-esteem”.
The TV host spoke during Monday’s opening episode where he recalled seeing his son “struggle” in the past.
Jeff shares sons Freddie, 19, and Bobby, 21, with the late Big Brother legend Jade Goody, who died in 2009 at the age of 27 after a battle with cervical cancer.
He added: ‘Something like (Celebrity Race Across The World), of course we’re going to grab it with both hands.’
The teenager, whose brother Bobby stars in EastEnders and last year reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing, admitted he is still unsure what the future holds for him.
He said: ‘Right now I’m thinking about what I’m going to do with my life.
“I think it’s quite difficult. Who is Freddie Brazier? I don’t know, but I hope the race will help me find out who I am.”
Jeff also said that what he was most looking forward to was being able to spend some time with his son as they join other famous faces on the travel reality show.
She said: ‘What I’m looking forward to most is feeling like I’m going to learn a lot more about my son.
“He’s not home much so I don’t see him much, but the good thing about this trip is that he’s with me and he can’t get rid of my presence.”
But Jeff also joked that Freddie is “not the best decision maker” as he told his son on camera that he had gone to meet a girl instead of packing for his trip.
Upon learning that his youngest son still lives at home, Bobby admitted, “I still need my dad.”
He said: “One of those times was last night, when you should have been packing for our trip, but instead you travelled to see a girl. Classic Fred.”
In this grueling show, teams of two race across an area of the world using any means of transportation other than an airplane.
Before the first episode, Jeff said: The daily star HOTTV newspaper column: ‘I wanted to take part because the element of travelling is an absolute privilege, but also to share it with my son and be able to create those memories.
“He’s not a kid anymore, he’s a young adult. I feel like at some point he’s going to leave home and I’m going to lose him. So I guess I’m just trying to squeeze every last bit out of him that I can.”
Last year, Bobby won praise for his emotional dance tribute to his late mother Jade on the dance floor, as Jeff and Bobby watched tearfully from the audience.
Bobby said of his mother’s death before his performance: “It changed my life completely, I would love to spend a day with her just to see where I get my smile from.”
Meanwhile Freddie said: It will be nice to spend that time with Dad, just me and my Dad.
‘Dad has a busy life, he works a lot and there aren’t many moments when we do things just the two of us.
“But when I do, I’m very lucky, whether it’s going to the movies or to the driving range, everything is fine.
Famous faces will say goodbye to luxury transport, smartphones and bank cards and instead will have to rely on their skills, cunning and wit, as well as the kindness of strangers.
Jeff is joined on the show by Ted Lasso’s Kola Bokinni and his cousin, Mary Ellen.
Model and actress Kelly Brook, 44, and her husband, Jeremy Parisi, will also be competing in the race of a lifetime.
Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills and his husband (then fiancé) Sam will also be taking on the challenge in the hope of being crowned winners.
Joining the celebrities will be their nearest and dearest, giving us a unique glimpse into the people we thought we knew, through the eyes of those who know them best.