Jeff Brazier’s Parenting Struggles: Seeking Advice Amid Family Feuds and Marital Tensions

Since Jady Goody’s tragic death, Jeff Brazier has earned plenty of plaudits for taking on the role of single parent to their two sons Bobby and Freddy.

But while from the outset they may have painted themselves as a picture-perfect family, in recent years the presenter has spoken about the struggles he’s faced while raising his boys.

Tensions in the household became so bad that Jeff, 46, even split from his wife, PR director Katie Dwyer, in 2022, before they reconciled a year later. 

Jeff had admitted taking time to learn about ‘stepping back’ as Bobby, 22, and Freddy, 20, got older, and confessed his parenting style could be ‘stifling’ at times.

Things are about to get even more challenging for him as it’s been revealed he’s set to become a grandfather, as Freddy is expecting a baby with his ex-girlfriend.

With sources saying Jeff is ‘supportive’ of his son’s baby news, it has led to a dramatic U-turn in relations between them, which had become increasingly strained.

Freddy had been embroiled in a high profile battle with his father, after he launched legal action in a bid to prevent the aspiring model from seeing his grandmother, Jade’s mum Jackiey Budden.

And Jeff appeared to hint at the drastic changes coming to his household in a cryptic Instagram post on Sunday, asking his followers for a ‘parenting guidebook’ on ‘unconventional early adult years.’

He wrote: ‘If someone could send me that parenting guidebook, particularly ‘early adult years the unconventional path’ that would be really helpful, thanks [kiss emoji and laughing emoji].’

Freddie was only four years old when his reality TV star mother died of cervical cancer, leaving her partner Jeff to care for two little boys – Freddy and his older brother Bobby, who was just five.

Jeff has openly detailed the ‘difficult’ journey of raising Bobby and Freddy since Jade’s death in 2009, particularly as they both became teenagers. 

Emphasising the importance of communication, he said on Loose Men: ‘I think it’s a lot for parents to have to navigate on a daily basis.’

In a 2023 Q&A with fans, Jeff added that he would ‘do things differently’ as a parent if he were given a second chance.

He said: ‘When the boys lost their mum, I absolutely reduced myself as a coping strategy, it wasn’t necessarily a conscious decision but I made myself small emotionally, socially, professionally to give myself the best possible chance of coping with what was in front of me.

‘If I had my time again, I would probably have not launched myself in with that laser focus even though I felt a pressure, I probably put a lot of pressure on myself to be everything they needed of me.’

Referring to his son Bobby, who at the time had found nationwide success as a star of EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing, he added: ‘I keep wanting to tell everyone that you see Bobby’s success and what he is doing, honestly I was just present, I was a good steady platform, I was a good menu to choose from, but everything else, don’t underestimate how much your child does to replace what they don’t have or maybe don’t find in you.’ 

He also told HELLO! in 2015: ‘I’ve morphed into something quite different from your average dad. I’m probably far more sensitive to their feelings and I’m far more aware of when they need emotional support. 

‘There are little side effects of my situation where you become really good at doing quite a lot on your own. I’ve got an ability to push myself beyond tiredness, because if I don’t do it, it doesn’t get done.’

For years Jeff’s candid discussions about parenting his two boys alone painted the image that they were a tight-knit family.

But cracks in that bond were revealed when Jeff and Freddy appeared on Celebrity Race Around The World last year, with the father-of-two seen walking away after his youngest claimed their family don’t speak openly to each other.

Freddie told the cameras: ‘Part of me came on this race to open up with my Dad and already he’s storming off. That’s not good. He might not like what I say, I’m just trying to talk to him really but it’s hard.’

After storming off, Jeff replied: ‘What have I done for the last seven or eight years. You need to take responsibility, that is part of this.” 

Friends went on to tell Daily Mail that fallouts between the two could be so bad that Freddie would flee Jeff’s £1million Essex mansion to go and stay with his grandmother Jackiey Budden, Jade’s mum.

‘Freddie will often turn up on the doorstep, sometimes very unhappy, and wanting to see his nan,’ a source said. ‘He and Jeff often argue, the rows can be bad, things go really, really pear shaped between them and that’s it, he leaves.

‘Freddie has got so much love to give but he doesn’t feel like he gets it back off of his father.

‘While Jackiey has her issues – and will be the first to admit she isn’t the most perfect or archetypal grandmother – he can share his feelings with her which is something he can’t do at Jeff’s. He has had a terribly sad life but he feels he can’t talk about it.’

Jeff spoke movingly on Celebrity Race about having to step up to help his sons after Jade’s death: ‘I think when the boys lost their mum I really doubled down on putting all of my time, effort, attention, and focus on the children.’

A source went onto tell Daily Mail: ‘Jeff took the boys in when Jade died, he took them away from the limelight and did his best to bring them up amid such difficult circumstances but sadly Freddie just can’t see eye to eye with him.’

Problems began around five years ago when Freddy turned 14, and living in Bobby’s shadow as his younger brother, the model is said to have felt lost.

Jeff, who found fame in the early noughties on Channel 4 reality show Shipwrecked, had just married Katie, a public relations executive, and despite all parties trying hard, as with many blended families, things were fractious.

As Bobby, 21, began to carve out a career – landing a role on BBC One soap EastEnders in 2022 and dancing up a storm on Strictly Come Dancing – Freddy struggled.

Freddy had also shared a dislike of sorts for his stepmother Katie, listing ‘stepparents’ in a cryptic Instagram post of ‘things he hates’ back in June. 

It’s no surprise that these tensions took a toll on Jeff’s marriage, as he and Katie split in 2022 when the PR director told pals she ‘didn’t want to be a stay-at-home wife.’

A source said at the time: ‘Jeff is a homebird and is into spiritualism. Kate doesn’t want to be the kind of wife who stays at home, she likes to go out and be sociable’. 

‘As time passed it became clear they had grown apart.’

The TV star married Kate in 2018, and shared that he had ‘honestly never felt loneliness like it’ following their split.

Taking to Instagram, Jeff said: ‘I have so much to be grateful for and I appreciate facing the lessons I need to grow but this year has been challenging to say the least.  

‘My nine-year relationship ended earlier in the year and I’ve been working through that on top of supporting someone close to me who is going through something difficult.

‘The boys and I have recently moved home to a new area and I spend most of the time alone as the boys obviously have their own things going on. 

‘It’s been constant change this year and I’m good with adapting but the combination of things have left me low at times.

‘I’ve honestly never felt loneliness like it. Can we put Christmas back a few months?!’

But in July 2023, Jeff confirmed that he and Katie had reconciled, as he shared an Instagram video from their holiday together, with their wedding rings on full display.

Bobby had also been proudly supported by Jeff while he kickstarted his own TV career, but in recent months it’s been reported he is stepping away from showbusiness to move to India and pursue the Hare Krishna religion.

The Mail revealed that Bobby turned to the organisation – which follows a branch of the Hindu faith – after relations became strained between Freddy and Jeff.

A source told The Sun: ‘Bobby is really excited and happy about his move to India. He’s been telling everyone about it and preaching to them about why he is devoted to Hare Krishna. 

‘He’s such a nice young man, his heart is in the right place, but some people are surprised that he’s walking away from his career at a time when he’s on such a high with it. 

‘He says he expects to be over there for a long while, at least a year, so maybe he will pick up on his career eventually when he’s back.’

Prior to news of his impending fatherhood, Freddy had turned to his grandmother Jackie for support, but this caused more issues in his relationship with Jeff.

Jeff had long insisted Jackiey is a bad influence on the troubled youngster – with the pair enduring a series of very public disputes over the years.

Freddy also reportedly skipped his brother Bobby’s birthday bash amid his feud with dad Jeff over his relationship with grandmother Jackiey . 

It was previously revealed that Jeff had set up a court date to stop Freddy from seeing his grandmother, amid rising concerns over his well-being. 

But just days before it was revealed he is set to become a father, Freddy made a bombshell U-turn by accusing his grandmother of getting him hooked on strong cannabis when he was just 12 – having previously insisted she had never been responsible for his drug use.

On his new podcast, he said: ‘My nan is definitely the person who introduced me to reefer and got me hooked. It’s one of those things, I was 12.

‘I’ve been smoking since I was 12, I’ve been to rehab, I’ve been sectioned, I’ve had manic episodes, I’ve been sectioned. There’s been a real journey and it’s been a tough one.’

His comments prompted Jackiey to blast back, insisting she is not responsible for his cannabis use.

She said: ‘I’ve read all these things he’s said about me and I just can’t believe he’d say them. It just isn’t true at all – I can’t believe it.’

Sources close to the Braziers say Freddy has discussed his forthcoming fatherhood with his father, This Morning’s parenting expert, and has helped to rebuild bridges between them.

Jeff is said to be ‘extremely supportive’ alongside other close family and friends who have vowed to help him in any way they can.

A friend told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It has blindsided him and has been one of the things that has really brought him and his dad back together but it’s so devastating that Jade isn’t here to see it.

‘Jeff was one of the first people he decided to confide in to ask for advice, and he stepped up straight away and wanted to help in any way he could.’

Freddy’s brief relationship is understood to have ended acrimoniously following a string of rows – which even saw him and his now-ex make allegations to the police.

But they have since discussed reconciling their differences if possible, if they are to become parents together.

Following Freddy’s baby news, Jeff has seemed in good spirits as he took to Instagram Stories to share a beaming snap with a pal who had come to watch him in his current theatre show of 101 Dalmatians.

The TV star used the song Life Will Be by Cleo Sol alongside the picture which includes optimistic lyrics such as ‘Life will be just you believe in you’.

The song continues: ‘If you’re alive, there’s no excuse. Get out of your mind, you cannot lose this one time. It could be right.’