Inside the life of Jade Goody – TV’s ‘first reality star’: From hilarious Big Brother gaffes to racism controversy and her tragic death aged just 27
Big Brother will make its long-awaited return this weekend, 23 years after the first series hit the screens.
And while the show has created a slew of household names throughout its run, there is one name that stands above the rest.
Jade Goody appeared on Big Brother’s third series back in 2002, entering the house as an unknown dental assistant from south-east London, and leaving nine weeks later as a nationwide star.
Her later years in the spotlight proved to be a turbulent time, with her controversial return on Celebrity Big Brother in 2007 dogged by accusations of racism, before she tragically died two years later following a battle cervical cancer.
So, as Big Brother prepares to welcome a new batch of housemates for a six-week run, MailOnline takes a look-back at the life and legacy of the original reality star.
Her Big Brother debut
Legendary: Jade Goody was a contestant on Big Brother in 2002, and applied for a spot on the show by submitting a video of herself, passing her entire body through a rubber band
Blast from the past: Jade’s time on Big Brother came when the show was still in its infancy, and that series featured a vast array of characters including Adele Roberts, Alison Hammond
Jade was a contestant on Big Brother’s third series in 2002, and applied for a spot on the show by submitting a video of herself, passing her entire body through a rubber band.
Working as a dental nurse at the time, she’d faced a difficult upbringing, caring for her mother Jackiey Budden.
She missed much of her schooling to look after her mum, who lost the use of her left arm and eye in a motorbike accident when Jade was a child.
In the 2019 documentary, titled Jade: The Reality Star Who Changed TV, Jackiet said Jade went on Big Brother to escape her troubled life.
She said: ‘We were a twisted-up, mucked-up family. She didn’t go in for fame. She went in to get away from me.’
Jade’s time on Big Brother came when the show was still in its infancy, and that series featured a vast array of characters including Adele Roberts, Alison Hammond and eventual winner Kate Lawler.
Jade-isms
Amusing: During her stint in the house, Jade left viewers in hysterics with a slew of clangers, including her questioning whether ‘East Angular’ was in the UK or abroad
Amusing: In one tearful exchange, Jade also delivered the iconic quote: ‘Am I minging?’
What a ride! However, she still made it to the final, finishing in fourth place, and earned a hugely warm reception from the crowd as she exited the house
During her stint in the house, Jade left viewers in hysterics with a slew of clangers, including her questioning whether ‘East Angular’ was in the UK or abroad.
She also wondered whether Croissants were English because she ‘got them with a full English breakfast,’ if Jerusalem was a real place or ‘just in the Bible,’ and ‘Do they speak Portuganese in Portugal? I thought Portugal was in Spain.’
In one tearful exchange, Jade also delivered the iconic quote: ‘Am I minging?’
Jade’s behaviour did spark some backlash from viewers, with Channel 4’s chief executive Alex Mahon admitting in 2019 that it was ‘a mistake’ to broadcast some scenes.
However, she still made it to the final, finishing in fourth place, and earned a hugely warm reception from the crowd as she exited the house.
In the later years, Jade become one of the UK’s most recognisable names, with a slew of TV appearances and brand deals, and set the stage for many reality stars that enter the spotlight today.
She also had two sons with then-partner Jeff Brazier, Bobby, 20, and Freddy, 19.
A controversial return
Shocking: In 2007, Jade returned to the Big Brother house for its celebrity series, and sparked thousands of Ofcom complaints after being accused of racist behaviour towards Shilpa Shetty
Explosive: Ofcom received more than 44,500 complaints from the public and bosses opted not to have a live crowd when Jade was evicted from the house
Drama: While Jade gave interviews in the ensuing days apologising for her behaviour, the backlash brought her career to a screeching halt
In January 2007, Jade made a surprise return to the Big Brother house for its celebrity series, accompanied by her mum Jackie and boyfriend Jack Tweed, with the ensuing days leading to a dramatic fall from grace for the star.
During her time in the house, Jade clashed with fellow housemate, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, including calling the actress ‘Shilpa Poppadom’ and mocking her for bleaching her facial hair.
A particular moment that caused the most outrage was a huge row between Jade and Shilpa over an Oxo Cube.
Jade told Shilpa that she was ‘no f*****g princess here,’ and she hit back that she needed ‘etiquette classes’, while fellow housemates Danielle Lloyd and Jo O’Meara laughed throughout.
Back in 2007, Ofcom received more than 44,500 complaints from the public (a record at the time), and bosses opted not to have a live crowd when Jade was evicted from the house.
Such was the scandal at the time that although Shilpa did not lodge an official complaint about racist behaviour with Big Brother, her allegations compelled police to investigate the possible classification of her treatment as ‘racial hatred’.
While Jade gave interviews in the ensuing days apologising for her behaviour, the backlash brought her career to a screeching halt, and she checked herself into The Priory before stepping back from the spotlight in 2007.
Devastating cancer news
Shocking: In 2008, Jade appeared on the Indian version of Big Brother, but while she was in the house learned she’d been diagnosed with cervical cancer
In 2008, Jade was invited to appear on the Indian version of Big Brother, Bigg Boss, where she was reunited with Shilpa, now the show’s host, to make amends.
But on just her second day in the house, Jade received the heartbreaking news she had cervical cancer, with footage of the moment broadcast on Indian TV at the time.
In a clip from the Channel 4 show, Jade said: ‘I had no idea that that conversation was being filmed… it was not right.’
She said it felt ‘lonely’ to feel like she was the last to learn of her diagnosis and she ‘just wanted to be cuddled’.
Her premature passing
Moving: Upon learning that the disease was terminal, the star tied the knot with Jack in an emotional ceremony, just a month before her death
Near the end: Jade died in her sleep in the early hours of March 22 2009 with her mother and husband by her side, at the age of just 27 (pictured on March 3, 19 days before her death)
After her cancer diagnosis, Jade made the decision to continue with her reality show filming and work commitments to make money for her young sons Bobby and Freddie, while she battled cancer.
Upon learning that the disease was terminal, the star tied the knot with Jack in an emotional ceremony, just a month before her death.
Jade’s personal trainer and close confidante Kevin Adams praised her for soldiering on through the pain to make the most of every moment of her wedding day, in footage from Channel 4’s 2019 documentary.
He said: ‘She was in excruciating pain, she was dancing, and she stayed dancing because it was her wedding day and that’s what you do.’
Jade died in her sleep in the early hours of March 22 2009 with her mother and husband by her side, at the age of just 27.
The funeral service took place at St John The Baptist Church in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, with a video montage of the star’s remarkable life played on a big screen to crowds outside.
Stars including Victoria Beckham and Simon Cowell sent flowers to be laid on her white coffin.
The star was also honoured by fans for raising awareness of cervical cancer and the importance of regular smear tests, with many calling her decision to remain so public about her condition her ‘true legacy.’
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