Bobby Brazier breaks silence on family support as nan 'banned' from Strictly

15 December 2023 , 19:00

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Strictly Come Dancing finalist Bobby Brazier has opened up about the support from his family amid claims his grandmother is 'banned' from the studio

Bobby Brazier has opened up about the support of his family and how it keeps him going on Strictly Come Dancing.

The EastEnders star's father Jeff Brazier and brother have regularly been seen in the audience, cheering him on. However, grandmother Jackiey Budden, who is the mother of Bobby's late mum, Jade Goody, is said to be banned from attending the live shows following her fractured relationship with Jeff after a long-running feud that's spanned decades.

During a chat with The Mirror and other press, Bobby discussed how much his family and friends have supported him - and how that's kept him in the competition for so long, describing it as a team effort. Following Bobby's chat, his nan Jackiey has been spotted placing photo of him and Dianne at Jade's grave.

Bobby and Dianne are in the Strictly final (PA)

Speaking to The Mirror and other press, when asked about his family support, he said: "I realised the other day - which I'm really grateful to have re-remembered - is that the reason that doing stuff like this is so so fun and so cool is because it's not just me who experiences it, but it's my team too. It's my friends and family and my nearest and dearest that all experience it to the same level.

"That's the best thing in the world. I love it and I love that so much to be able to bring my best friends or my friends to cool things that I'm able to do. That's what makes it fun because otherwise - I don't really know."

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Jackiey's troubled relationship with Jeff has meant she's missed out on seeing Bobby perform live during his time on Strictly Come Dancing. Insisting she's still supporting him, she said recently: "Unfortunately I haven’t seen Bobby live. I would have loved to, but it’s just one of those things. I’ve been supporting him from home, watching every moment."

Jeff has been looking after both Bobby and Freddie since Jade's tragic passing in 2009 after she lost her battle with cervical cancer. And soon after, following a series of arguments, Jackiey has not been able to rebuild her relationship with Jeff.

"Jeff and Jackiey haven't got on for a long time and it has been hard. It has meant that Jackiey hasn't been able to be in the audience to watch Bobby, things are just too bad between her and his father. He and his brother Freddie are her only grandchildren and she adores them, there is nothing she would love more than to be there to watch him live," a source said.

Earlier this week, Jackiey Budden was pictured laying a heartbreaking tribute at her late daughter's grave days before grandson Bobby does his best to lift the Glitterball trophy on Saturday night. Jackiey put on a brave face as she tended to the grave of late daughter Jade, seen putting up a Christmas tree by the headstone and adorning it with a photograph of Bobby and his professional dance partner Dianne.

The sweet snap depicts Bobby and Dianne's Couples' Choice routine which the EastEnders star dedicated to his late mum Jade. As she tended to her daughter's grave in the December cold, Jackiey was seen wiping away a tear from her eye after putting up a Christmas tree by her headstone. Jade was buried at St Thomas' Church in Upshire, Epping Forest in March 2009.

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Jasmine Allday