Jade Goody’s mum Jackiey Budden is back in the spotlight as its reported her former son-in-law Jeff Brazier has launched legal action to stop her seeing her grandsons

Jade Goody’s mum Jackiey’s heartbreaking drug relapse and memory of late daughter(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Jackiey Budden, mother of the late reality TV star Jade Goody, has remained in the spotlight following the iconic Big Brother icon’s tragic passing in 2009. Over the weekend, it marked 16 years since mum-of-two Jade died of cervical cancer at the age of 27 and left behind young sons Bobby, 21, and Freddie, 20,

On the poignant anniversary it was reported Jade’s ex Jeff Brazier, father of her two sons, had launched legal proceedings to stop his 20-year-old son Freddy from seeing Jackie. It has previously been reported how Freddy had a ‘secret feud’ with his dad and ‘storms out the house’ after huge rows, opting to stay at nan Jackiey’s flat in southeast London to cool down.

Both Jackiey and Jeff have made no secret of their issues with one another over the years, with Jeff previously admitting his former mother-in-law makes him feel like “the mean parent” and Jackiey lashing out by calling her grandson’s dad “a c**k”.

Jackiey Budden with her late daughter on her wedding day(Image: Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)

Jackiey’s drug relapse

In 2010, on the first anniversary of her daughter’s death, Jackiey broke down as she admitted to taking drugs. The 66-year-old said she was “disgusted” with herself after being snapped snorting lines of cocaine in Tenefire.

Speaking days on from being pictured in the compromising position, Jackiey said she felt “physically sick” after breaking her nine-year sobriety streak. “I feel absolutely disgusted with myself,” Jackiey said on This Morning. “My new partner knows I don’t snort or anything, I’ve never ever done that in my life – yes, I was a crack head – but nine years clean, and I said, “Do you know what – I’ll just take two lines’… and it was the biggest mistake I’ve ever done.”

When Jackiey’s daughter Jade was just 20-years-old and an unknown dental nurse, the Big Brother legend smoked crack cocaine in front of her mother in an attempt to shock Jackiey out of her addictions. The late mum-of-two smoked her mother’s stash of the lethal drug right in front of her, hoping it would inspire her to kick the habit.

However, the experience only left Jade feeling ‘dirty and disgusting’, and failed to curb her mum Jackiey’s addiction. “I decided to show her (Jackiey) how nasty and heartbreaking it was to see a member of your family – your own flesh and blood – killing themselves in front of your eyes,” Jade wrote in her autobiography, Jade: Catch A Falling Star.

Jeff Brazier recently launched legal action to stop Jackiey seeing her youngest grandson

Watching Jade’s DVDs

In 2017, Jackiey shared a heart-rending insight into how her grandsons keep the memory of their mother alive who were 13 and 11 at the time. Jackiey recently opened up in an interview with Now about the special way she and the boys reminisce about Jade.

She revealed: “I have all of her DVDs and life on tape. When the boys are here, if we have a bad day, we just put Jade’s DVD on, just because she’s so funny.”

She also disclosed that it’s not just old family footage they watch but also Jade’s fitness regimes: “Jade’s youngest Fred, he puts her workout DVD on in his bedroom.”

In 2019, Jackiey featured on Channel 4’s documentary, ‘Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed Britain’. During the programme, she recounted a touching conversation with her grandson Freddie about whether Jade had become an “angel”.

“He said: ‘Nana I’ve been awake all night, I can’t sleep, is she mummy mummy or mummy angel?’,” she shared. “I said: ‘She’s mummy angel now.’ And he said: ‘Can you tell her goodnight for me?’”.

Strictly Come Dancing ban

Towards the end of 2023, Jackiey was pictured arranging an emotional tribute at her beloved daughter’s gravesite just days before grandson Bobby Brazier took part in the final of Strictly Come Dancing. Jackiey lovingly adorned Jade’s resting place with a Christmas tree and fixed a photo of Bobby with his dance partner Dianne alongside it.

The selected snapshot showcased Bobby and Dianne during their Couples’ Choice performance, which the rising EastEnders actor dedicated to his late mother, Jade. In the chilly December weather, Jackiey couldn’t hold back tears as she set up the festive decorations by Jade’s tombstone.

Her poignant visit to Jade’s grave occurred among reports that she had been prohibited from witnessing her grandson’s stunning performances on Strictly Come Dancing.

Bobby Brazier, who claimed the Rising Star accolade at the National Television Awards earlier in the year for his work on EastEnders, expressed his gratitude towards his father Jeff Brazier during his heartfelt speech, leaving Jeff visibly moved. Meanwhile, The Sun reported that Jackiey lashed out at Jeff, branding him a “c**k”.