Emotion reason why Freddie Brazier won't appear on Big Brother

Jade Goody (centre) with Bobby Jack Brazier (left) and Freddy (right), as they arrive for the premiere of Garfield 2 at the VUE cinema in Leicester Square, London. (Image: PA)

TV star Jeff Brazier is set to grace our screens alongside his youngest son, Freddie, in the latest instalment of Celebrity Race Across The World. The BBC reality show will see the father-son pair embark on an adventure across South America, armed with only a modest budget and no modern conveniences like phones or wallets, all while racing against the clock.

At 19 years old, this marks Freddie's debut into television, a move that Jeff, aged 45, acknowledges was a significant choice for the family. "He hasn't done anything on television before and he wasn't sure whether that was his path," Jeff reveals.

He further explains their decision: "We just reached a point of understanding that this doesn't necessarily mean he's using it as a stepping stone to do anything. This can just be for the experience."

The journey kicks off in the Amazon Rainforest and concludes in the Andes, with the Braziers competing against radio DJ Scott Mills and his husband Sam Vaughan, model Kelly Brook and her partner Jeremy Parisi, and actor Kola Bokinni with his cousin Mary Ellen over a staggering 12,500km. More than a competition, however, participating in the series offered Jeff a precious opportunity to bond with Freddie.

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Freddie, along with his elder brother Bobby, 21, are Jeff's children with the late Jade Goody, who passed away from cervical cancer at the age of 27 in 2009, reports OK!.

WARNING TAKEN FROM INSTAGRAMpublic page of : Jeff Brazier tribute to so Freddie as Bobby receives 'a lot of love and kindness'https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw9xxU3IrkX/ (Image: Instagram)

"It's a big life experience and we're trying to collect as many of those as we can, especially as Fred is of an age where before long, he's going to be making his own way in the world," Jeff says. "To do something like this with your 19-year-old son is an opportunity that probably won't come up again."

Freddie, fresh out of school, was eager to demonstrate his ability to tackle such a huge challenge. "I wanted to stop allowing the voice in my head to restrict me from doing the things that will actually benefit me in some ways," Freddie confessed.

Moreover, the young lad was keen to carve his own path in television, steering clear of shows his brother, father and mother Jade had previously participated in particularly Big Brother. Jade shot to fame on Big Brother in 2002, but found herself embroiled in controversy five years later during the celebrity edition of the show due to her part in a racially charged exchange with Indian contestant Shilpa Shetty.

"I wouldn't do [Celebrity Big Brother]," Freddie declared. "People say, 'It would be nice because of your mum's legacy.' It won't be nice because she got a lot of stick for it and I wouldn't want that coming onto my name. I just don't think Big Brother would be a good idea. And Strictly is Bob's thing."

Jeff Brazier and his son Freddie faced a tough challenge on Celebrity Race Across The World, with Jeff admitting he found it "harder" than his stint on the military training show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. "People think I'm being silly by even suggesting that a travel show can be harder than being interrogated, hosed down and screamed at, but it's the five weeks of constant challenge and pressure," Jeff explains.

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Inside Jeff Braziers life with sons Freddie and Bobby (Image: Instagram/jeffbrazier)

"The relationship is under scrutiny because throughout Freddie's childhood, if there's any stress, Dad takes over. But you can imagine that Fred doesn't want to be seen as Dad's plus-one here, so it creates an unnatural reaction sometimes where Fred fights for something that isn't necessarily important to him."

Navigating through Chile and Argentina, the Braziers often debated over directions. "A lot of the time, Fred will be using complete guesswork because that's the way his brain works and I'll be using logic because I'm 45 years old," Jeff says with a chuckle.

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"You have to find a system that works for you sometimes we would go with Fred's unpredictability and it would end up being a quicker or more enjoyable route."

Freddie chimes in confidently, "I'm great at finding places without a map! I somehow always get to where I want to be."

TV personality Jeff Brazier and his sons Bobby Jack (L) and Freddie (R) attend the HomeChoice Enchanted Wood Tea Party at The Music Room on July 20, 2005 in London, England. (Image: Getty Images)

The intense South American heat was also tough. “The most luxurious shower we had was at a bus garage,” Jeff admits. “In my football days, we would be at service stations and see truckers going for a shower and think, ‘No way would I ever shower in one of those.’ On Race, it was 10 times worse than that.”

Despite some occasional friction, Jeff expressed relief over choosing travel companion Freddie Flintoff rather than Bobby. He elaborated with a bit of banter, "No disrespect to Bob, but I had more confidence going with Fred," citing Bobby's obstinate nature and reluctance to endure discomfort.

Sharing a telling anecdote, Jeff described a mountain hike in Scotland where Bobby famously lost heart mid-way and "sulked" for the rest of the descent. "Fred supported Bob for the majority of the journey and didn't complain that's how I knew Fred would be good on the show," confessed Jeff, highlighting that this resilience showcased why Freddie was his preferred choice.

In a playful dig, Jeff quipped about his decision not to select Bobby for the program, saying, "It's also why I didn't put Bob forward for it. He sacks off the mountain after five minutes and sulks for about four hours."

Jeff & Freddy on Celebrity Race Across The World (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Hans Georg)

Adventures such as sailing along the Amazon River and laboring on a Porto Franco farm made the journey unforgettable, but Jeff beamed with anticipation at the thought of reuniting with his wife Kate on his return to the UK.

"I missed her horrendously," he confesses. "I wanted to tell her about the things that were incredible, but also missed her as someone to touch base with. Although she used the time to go to the gym every day and got really fit! ".

Celebrity Race Across The World S2,6,Jeff & Freddy,Studio Lambert,Hans Georg (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Hans Georg)

Freddie is already eyeing up his next TV endeavours with enthusiasm. "I would do The Masked Singer, although I can't sing. I would learn," he declares.

"I would try Dancing On Ice, but that would be a challenge because I can't skate."

Celebrity Race Across The World S2,1,Jeff & Freddy,Studio Lambert Ltd,Studio Lambert (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert)

"You're the ideal candidate," his father Jeff quips. The duo are looking forward to more manageable family escapades in the years to come.

Jeff shares his aspirations for family bonding: "When Fred has a family, when Bob has a family, I hope there will be many family holidays and opportunities for us to go on experiences together," He adds with a smile, "At this stage, this felt like a gift and to spend five weeks doing something really cool will be a memory we have for the rest of our lives."

Emotion reason why Freddie Brazier won't appear on Big Brother

Emotion reason why Freddie Brazier won't appear on Big Brother

Emotion reason why Freddie Brazier won't appear on Big Brother

Emotion reason why Freddie Brazier won't appear on Big Brother

Emotion reason why Freddie Brazier won't appear on Big Brother