Bobby Brazier has revealed his brother’s emotional reaction to his homage to his late mother, Jade Goody, on Strictly Come Dancing.
The EastEnders star, 20, left us all in tears following his and partner Dianne Buswell’s dance to Maxwell’s This Woman’s Work.
Bobby’s father, Jeff Brazier, who described his oldest as a “walking tribute to his mother” in the VT, was also spotted crying, while his youngest brother, Freddie, 19, enthusiastically cheered his brother on the dancefloor from the crowd.
Despite finishing second on the scoreboard with an astounding 37 points, the celebrity has since revealed that it was ‘daunting’.
Speaking on Wednesday’s It Takes Two, Bobby said: ‘It was daunting, because I think the song is perfect, so to put my stamp on perfection was scary, but I’m really glad that we did.’
‘We were so wrapped up in the moment that it all feels like a blur to be honest,’ Dianne recalled.
‘He just danced it so well,’ she gushed, praising her partner.
Talking about his brother and father watching from the audience, Bobby chuckled recalling their reactions, saying: ‘It just makes me laugh! I remember looking to them after it finished and walking over to the judges, and my dad said, “Well done.”
‘It was a real genuine, sweet, well done, I could tell he was really proud.’
Bobby went on to say that someone told him that Freddie had ‘stood up before the dance had even finished to start clapping way before everyone else.’
‘It’s really sweet, they were both really proud,’ he added.
Bobby’s remarks follow Jeff’s heartfelt speech following the performance.
He wrote: ‘To share your grief even to just one person can be a daunting prospect but to express it so movingly in front of millions takes incredible courage so thank you for your inspiration @bobbybrazier!’
He said his son had encouraged ‘many a conversation about loss’ and had given people ‘an outlet for the tears they might find hard to release,’ praising Bobby’s ‘wonderful legacy’ in the dance series.
‘You said something in the VT about making me proud of you? You and your brother achieved that a long time ago. Don’t forget I’ve seen the journey and you both have my lifelong support & unwavering respect.’
Jeff went on to thank Bobby’s dance partner Dianne for continuing to support Bobby ‘with the selflessness & resilience not everyone but your family & fellow professionals will see or understand.’
‘I admire the way you balance the multitude of challenges you face always with a smile & your professionalism & towering strength appears without limit.’
He said the track chosen to go along with the song ‘wasn’t just an outlet for his frustrations years ago & a wonderful tribute to Jade, I also think [it] … recognises perfectly what you’re made of, what you’re giving and who you are.’
‘Although the routine was a blur and the anticipation highly emotional I enjoy so much watching all perform, the fact Bobby is holding his own amongst such talent & creativity is astonishing.’
Bobby spoke about his mother, Goody, who died in 2009 at the age of 27 from cervical cancer.
He recalled seeing his mum as a ‘superhero’ and shared his wish: ‘I’d love to spend a day with her to see where I got my smile.’
It Takes Two airs weekdays on BBC Two at 6.30pm, while Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.25pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
