Freddy Brazier has revealed that he took money from the budget allocated to him and his father, Jeff Brazier, during the BBC travel competition Race Across the World to buy cannabis while filming in Brazil in 2024.
The 22-year-old, whose mother was the late television personality Jade Goody, said he was struggling emotionally during the experience, particularly because filming coincided with Mother’s Day. Reflecting on the incident during an appearance on The Terry Stone Connection podcast, Freddy acknowledged that his decision was selfish and could have jeopardised his and his father’s participation in the competition.
He explained that he had not been in the right mental state to take part in the programme and found the prospect of being filmed while dealing with grief especially difficult.
Mother’s Day Struggles Led to Late-Night Trip to the Beach
Freddy recalled that he left his hotel room through a window on Mother’s Day and went to a nearby beach, despite a member of the hotel staff warning him that the surrounding area might not be safe.
Once there, he encountered two people who made bracelets and whom he and his father had seen previously. He said they bought him a beer before he used some of the money provided for the competition to purchase cannabis.
Freddy described smoking with the pair while looking at the stars as a memorable experience, but admitted that his actions were wrong.
He said the decision was particularly unfair to his father because using the shared budget in that way could have put their place in the competition at risk.
Freddy Says He Felt Unable to Cope With Filming
During the podcast interview, Freddy explained that the timing of the competition had made an already difficult period more challenging.
He recalled experiencing what he described as an extreme episode in the week before the programme’s master interviews. He also admitted that he had smoked cannabis the night before one of the interviews, despite promising his father that he would arrive sober.
Freddy said he turned up exhausted after getting little sleep and believed the production team had used a considerable amount of makeup to conceal the effects.
The prospect of spending Mother’s Day in front of cameras added to his distress. He said he wanted to be alone rather than have to discuss his emotions while being filmed.
Although he acknowledged the risks of taking money from the show’s budget, Freddy maintained that he felt he needed to smoke cannabis at the time because he was struggling to cope.
Father and Son Finished Third in Race Across the World
Freddy competed alongside his father in the 2024 series of Race Across the World, which challenges pairs to travel across a designated route on a limited budget.
The participants must manage their money carefully while making their way between destinations, meaning any unplanned spending can affect their ability to complete the journey.
Freddy and Jeff ultimately finished third. Scott Mills and his husband, Sam Vaughan, won the competition.
Freddy’s admission offers a personal account of the difficulties he experienced during filming, although the BBC and his representatives had not publicly responded to the claims in the source report at the time of publication.
Previous Disclosures About Addiction and Mental Health
The latest revelation follows earlier public statements by Freddy about his long-running struggles with cannabis use and his mental health.
In 2025, he spoke about his experiences on the A Load Of Old Cobblers podcast, saying he had been smoking cannabis since he was 12 and had experienced manic episodes and periods of compulsory psychiatric care.
Freddy also alleged that his grandmother, Jackiey Budden, introduced him to cannabis and contributed to his developing an addiction. He clarified that she was not the person with whom he first tried the drug, but said she was the person who got him hooked.
He has previously described his mental health journey as difficult and said he had attended rehabilitation.
Freddy Announced Plans for Rehabilitation Before Changing His Mind
Freddy later announced on Instagram that he intended to seek treatment at a rehabilitation centre in Spain.
In his post, he described cannabis as a coping mechanism that had developed into an addiction, explaining that he had relied on it to feel stable and cope with difficult emotions.
However, only days after announcing his plans, he said he had reconsidered and no longer felt he needed rehabilitation, suggesting instead that a holiday or retreat with friends might help him.
His changing position highlighted the continuing uncertainty surrounding his efforts to address his cannabis use.
Grief Over Jade Goody’s Death Remains Part of His Story
Freddy was four years old when his mother, Jade Goody, died from cervical cancer in 2009. Goody became widely known through her appearance on Big Brother and remained a prominent figure in British entertainment until her death.
Freddy’s relationship with his father and grandmother has also attracted public attention over the years, with Jeff previously expressing concerns about Jackiey’s influence on his son.
Freddy has said he spent years worrying that his grandmother might take her own life if he did not prioritise their relationship, amid longstanding tensions between Jackiey and Jeff.
His latest account connects his struggles during Race Across the World with the emotional difficulties he says he was experiencing at the time.
Support Available for Mental Health and Addiction Concerns
Freddy’s comments have brought renewed attention to his experiences with grief, mental health difficulties and cannabis dependence.
People affected by similar issues in the UK can contact Mind on 0300 123 3393 for mental health support. Anyone seeking information or assistance relating to drugs can contact FRANK on 0300 123 6600, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
