Television presenter Jeff Brazier has spoken publicly about his son Freddy’s ongoing battle with addiction and mental health difficulties, saying he will continue doing everything he can to support him.
Freddy, 22, is the son of the late television personality Jade Goody, who died from cervical cancer in 2009 when he was four years old. He has experienced cannabis addiction and serious mental health challenges, including episodes of psychosis.
Speaking on Matt Willis’s podcast, On The Mend, Jeff described the difficulties of watching his son struggle despite repeated attempts to help him.
“To see your son suffer in that way and not be able to appeal to his better nature to stop that addiction cycle… I couldn’t do anything to stop it,” he said.
Jeff explained that he had tried various ways to intervene, including standing in front of the front door to prevent Freddy from leaving and contacting the police.
Freddy’s Psychosis Left His Father Searching for Him
Jeff said one of the most difficult aspects of Freddy’s struggles had been episodes of psychosis that he associated with his son’s drug use.
He explained that during these periods, Freddy’s behaviour could change significantly, leaving him walking the streets and potentially exposed to danger.
Jeff said he had gone out searching for his son on numerous occasions in an attempt to bring him somewhere safe. However, he described how Freddy would sometimes leave again when he turned away.
The presenter said the family had faced these difficulties over several years and that interventions, including rehabilitation and compulsory psychiatric admission, had not brought about the lasting change he had hoped for.
Freddy was sectioned at the age of 17 and spent his 18th birthday in a psychiatric ward. He has also undergone rehabilitation as part of his efforts to address his difficulties.
Despite the challenges, Jeff said he remained committed to supporting his son.
“What else can I do but keep trying? I just keep trying. I’m never going to stop. I just always want to support him,” he said.
Jeff added that he believed Jade would have insisted that he continue doing everything possible to help Freddy.
Jeff Discusses Difficult Relationship With Freddy’s Grandmother
Jeff also spoke about Freddy’s complicated relationship with his maternal grandmother, Jackiey Budden, acknowledging the difficulties of protecting a child from a close family member.
The relationship between Jeff and Jackiey has been strained over concerns about her influence on Freddy, particularly following claims that they smoked cannabis together.
Freddy previously said Jackiey introduced him to cannabis and contributed to his developing an addiction. He has also described the impact of their relationship on his mental health.
Jeff said the situation had been particularly difficult because Jackiey was the mother of Jade, whose death continues to affect the family.
He previously attempted legal action to restrict Freddy’s contact with his grandmother, saying he wanted to keep his son safe. Freddy sided with Jackiey, and Jeff later abandoned the legal action.
In June 2025, Freddy and Jackiey were seen smoking together near Tower Bridge in south London following a reconciliation. Jackiey subsequently said she believed Freddy was safer smoking with her because she knew what he was using.
Freddy Says He Takes Responsibility for His Actions
Earlier this month, Freddy discussed his relationship with Jackiey on The Terry Stone Connection podcast, describing the mental health difficulties he had experienced.
He said he saw similarities between himself and his grandmother in the way they think and deal with mental health challenges. He also explained that he found it difficult when Jackiey compared him with his late mother.
Freddy said that, although he loved his grandmother, the time he had spent with her over the previous decade had been mentally challenging.
He also said he believed she had played a role in his cannabis addiction, while insisting that he accepted responsibility for his own decisions.
“No one’s to blame other than myself,” Freddy said, adding that he believed he had always been at risk of taking the wrong path.
In a previous appearance on the A Load Of Old Cobblers podcast in August 2025, Freddy said Jackiey had introduced him to cannabis when he was 12 and that he believed she was the person who got him addicted.
He also described his experiences with rehabilitation, psychiatric admissions and manic episodes as part of a difficult personal journey.
Jade Goody’s Death Continues to Affect the Family
Jeff said the loss of Jade remained a daily presence in the family’s life and that he had never attempted to replace her role as the boys’ mother.
He has raised Freddy and his older son, Bobby, since Jade died on Mother’s Day in 2009.
Jeff said he believed the brothers’ bereavement was a significant factor in the challenges Freddy had faced while growing up.
He explained that it had sometimes been difficult to distinguish between behavioural problems and the effects of grief, particularly when his sons were not ready to discuss their mother or seek therapy.
Jeff said parents could feel as though they were failing when their children refused to talk about their experiences, but added that pushing them to confront difficult emotions before they were ready could create further challenges.
He described navigating the situation as one of the most difficult experiences a parent could face.
Jeff Remains Determined to Help Freddy
Despite the continuing challenges, Jeff said he wanted Freddy to mature and find a more stable path forward. He explained that he had explored different ways of helping his son and remained determined to support him.
The presenter acknowledged that the family continued to face difficulties following Jade’s death, but reiterated that he would not give up on Freddy.
Jeff’s comments come as Freddy continues to speak publicly about his addiction, mental health and family relationships.
People in the UK affected by mental health difficulties can contact Mind on 0300 123 3393. Anyone seeking support for drug-related issues can contact FRANK on 0300 123 6600, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
