Bobby Jack Brazier (born 2 June 2003) is an English actor and model. Present in the public eye from birth due to the popularity of his mother, Jade Goody, he was frequently featured in the media throughout the formative years of his life until Goody's death in 2009.
Bobby Brazier | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Brazier in 2022 | |
| Born | Bobby Jack Brazier 2 June 2003 London, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2003–2010, 2019–present |
| Parent(s) | Jade Goody Jeff Brazier |
| Relatives | Freddy Brazier (brother) |
| Modelling information | |
| Height | 6 ft 1.5–2 in[1] |
| Hair colour | Brown[2] |
| Eye colour | Green[2] |
| Agency | Unsigned Group |
At 16, Brazier began his modelling career and made his catwalk debut at Milan Fashion Week in 2020. He rose to prominence after joining the cast of the BBC One soap opera EastEnders as Freddie Slater in 2022. The role earned him a National Television Award. He was a contestant on the 21st series of the dancing competition show Strictly Come Dancing in 2023 and finished as a runner-up.
Early life
editBobby Jack Brazier was born on 2 June 2003 at Portland Hospital in Westminster, London.[3] He is the son of television personality Jade Goody and television presenter Jeff Brazier.[3] His maternal grandfather was half Jamaican.[4] Due to the popularity of his mother, Brazier was in the public eye from birth and appeared in the occasional episode of her Sky Living reality series from 2005 until her death from cervical cancer in 2009.[5][6][7] After her death, he and his younger brother Freddy were kept out of the spotlight following the high media presence whilst Goody was alive and during the final months of her life.[3] Due to high media attention, they did not attend her funeral.[8] Brazier only made a single appearance in the 2010 documentary titled Jade: A Year Without Her.[6]
Brazier grew up with his brother in Harlow, Essex,[3] raised by their father with the help of his mother and later his future wife, Kate Dwyer.[5][7] He attended a private school in London until year seven before moving with his family to Brighton where he was enrolled at a state school.[5] At the state school, Brazier experienced bullying, and after a year, the family moved back to London, where he returned to the private school and completed his GCSE exams.[5] While modelling, he worked at a milkshake café and was briefly a social media apprentice.[1][6] He also played football.[6]
Career
editModelling
editBrazier began his modelling career in 2019 at age 16 after he was scouted by Cesar Perin whilst walking down the street and signed to his modelling agency, Unsigned Group.[3][9] In January 2020, he made his catwalk debut, modelling for Dolce & Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week.[10] The same year, he modelled for Tommy Hilfiger at London Fashion Week and walked Paris Fashion Week.[3][11] In 2021, he appeared in a fashion film for GCDS and featured in the pre-autumn campaign for Bianca Saunders and the autumn/winter campaign for Richard Quinn.[12][13][14] He walked the spring/summer 2022 fashion show for Helen Anthony and the autumn/winter 2024 fashion show for Holzweiler.[15]
As a model, Brazier was featured in editorials for the magazines British GQ, Lewis, MMScene, Odda, Schön! and Tings,[2][15] and covered the magazines 10 Men Magazine, Dust Magazine, Grazia UK and Man About Town.[15][16]
EastEnders
editIn 2022, Brazier made his acting debut in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, taking over the role of Freddie Slater, the son of established character Little Mo Mitchell (Kacey Ainsworth), after the character last appeared as a baby.[17][18] The show's executive producer, Chris Clenshaw, who came across Brazier's profile on social media, said of his casting: "There was some of what I saw in Bobby that I thought would be perfect for Freddie. His energy, his twinkle, his spiritual side. So then we brought Bobby in to audition along with some others and he just blew us away with his performance. He is Freddie Slater."[19] The role won him the Rising Star at the 28th National Television Awards.[20] Brazier also portrayed Freddie in the 2024 spin-off web miniseries The Point of Mo Return.[21]
Strictly Come Dancing
editIn 2023, Brazier competed in the 21st series of the dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.[22] Together with his dancing partner Dianne Buswell, they finished as runners-up in the final.[23] He also participated in the 2024 Strictly Come Dancing Live! UK tour.[24] Following his stint on the show, pop culture commentator Nick Ede named Brazier "a rare breed of talent" and compared him to Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles. He opined that both Brazier and Styles "got that look that's appealing to young people, appealing to the mothers, appealing to the guys, they don't really alienate anybody and they have that unique ability to make people happy."[25] In a similar tone, journalist Lucie Cave expressed that "there's a real purity and humility about him that is rare in a young star," and journalist Jacques Peretti said that "what's appealing about him is what appealed about his mother, which is a sort of ingenue innocence."[7] Elaborating on this, public relations expert Mark Borkowski commented that he has "'the suff' – a natural ability to communicate." He said that while "other people have to have it trained in them, and of course we see that inauthenticity," Brazier is "this slightly gauche, naive and beautifully optimistic human being, and people find him naturalistic ... He's gloriously honest at this stage."[7]
Other endeavours
editAlongside his father, Brazier appeared in the 2023 Stand Up to Cancer special of the reality series Celebrity Gogglebox and joined its main cast the following year.[26][27] In February 2024, he was among the television and social media personalities who met with UK Minister for Loneliness Stuart Andrew at 10 Downing Street to discuss the stigma around loneliness in young people as part of a newly launched Government campaign.[28] Brazier played for England in the 2024 edition of the annual charity football match Soccer Aid to raise money for UNICEF.[29] He also starred as schoolboy James in the 2024 Paramount+ thriller series Curfew.[30]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Jade's Salon | Himself | [6] | |
| 2006 | Just Jade | [6] | ||
| 2008 | Living With… Jade | [31] | ||
| 2009 | Jade: Bride to Be | [32] | ||
| Jade's Wedding | [6] | |||
| 2010 | Jade: A Year Without Her | [6] | ||
| 2021 | GCDS: Fall/Winter 2021 at Milan Fashion Week | Video short; model | [12] | |
| 2022–present | EastEnders | Freddie Slater | Regular role | [33] |
| 2023 | Strictly Come Dancing | Himself | Series 21 contestant | [34] |
| 2023–present | Celebrity Gogglebox | 2023 Stand Up to Cancer special Series 6 regular |
[26][27] | |
| 2024 | The Point of Mo Return | Freddie Slater | EastEnders spin-off web miniseries; 6 episodes | [21] |
| 2024 | Curfew | James | Main role | [30] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | National Television Awards | Rising Star | EastEnders | Won | [20] |
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Shortlisted | [35] | ||
| Best Comic Performance | Longlisted | [36] |
References
edit- ^ a b Essex, Joey. "Bobby Brazier Wants His Heart Broken". Tings Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Bobby Brazier". Uno models Barcelona & Madrid. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Morgan, Laura (1 September 2023). "Bobby Brazier – things you didn't know about the Strictly and EastEnders star". Whattowatch.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ Smith, David James (12 July 2009). "Who killed Jade Goody?". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d Greenwood, Douglas (5 April 2022). "From boy to man: Bobby Brazier on health, wealth and his famous mum". The Face. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h O'Connor, Roisin (25 November 2023). "Meet Bobby Brazier, the EastEnders star hoping to win over Strictly Come Dancing viewers". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d Saner, Emine (23 November 2023). "How Bobby Brazier charmed Britain: 'He has a sparkle just like his mum'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Jade Goody's sons to miss funeral". The Daily Telegraph. London. 28 March 2009. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ Welsh, Daniel (7 September 2020). "Jade Goody's Eldest Son Bobby Brazier Unveils His First Ever Magazine Photo-Shoot". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Young, Sarah (12 January 2020). "Jade Goody's son Bobby Brazier makes runway debut for Dolce and Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ McLaren, Bonnie (17 February 2020). "Jade Goody's Son Bobby Brazier Walks For Tommy Hilfiger". Grazia. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Bobby Brazier for GCDS". Unsigned Group. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ "The Pedestrian". Biancasaunders.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ Hamilton, Sophie (7 July 2021). "Jeff Brazier opens up about his sons' exciting modelling careers". Hello!. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Bobby Brazier". Models.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "Jade Goody's Son Bobby Brazier Covers Man About Town - Chapter 2". Wonderland. 10 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Daly, Helen (21 July 2022). "Little Mo Slater's son Freddie returns to EastEnders – Bobby Brazier joins cast". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (29 August 2022). "EastEnders spoilers – Bobby Brazier on emotional Freddie scenes". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (29 August 2022). "EastEnders boss reveals dramatic arrival for Freddie Slater as Bobby Brazier takes on role". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ a b Saunders, Emma (5 September 2023). "Happy Valley: Sarah Lancashire wins big at National Television Awards". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ a b Knight, Lewis (17 May 2024). "EastEnders releases spin-off series ahead of Freddie Slater and Big Mo Harris return". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ "Bobby Brazier is the twelfth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023". BBC Media Centre. 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ Hogan, Michael (16 December 2023). "Favourites Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola win this year's Strictly Come Dancing". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Full celebrity and professional dancer line-up announced for Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour 2024" (Press release). BBC Studios. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Hall, James (19 December 2024). "'The looks of Harry Styles, the voice of Michael Caine': why Bobby Brazier is the true winner of Strictly". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b Bullimore, Emma (3 November 2023). "Celebrity Gogglebox 2023 line-up: Meet the famous telly watchers". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ a b Warner, Sam (5 June 2024). "Celebrity Gogglebox confirms full line-up ahead of series return". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Celebrities and influencers join forces to tackle loneliness" (Press release). Gov.uk. 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
- ^ Potts, Michael (3 June 2024). "Soccer Aid line-up 2024: Confirmed England XI and World XI celebrities and former players". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ a b Rowan, Iona (10 September 2024). "Mandip Gill and Bobby Brazier star in first-look trailer for new UK drama". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
- ^ "Living With Jade Goody". Living TV Group. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
- ^ Murphy, Nichola (1 November 2023). "Bobby Brazier shares emotional moment with late mum Jade in unearthed wedding clip". Hello!. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "There's a new Slater in town as Bobby Brazier joins the cast of EastEnders" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. 21 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
- ^ "Bobby Brazier is the twelfth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ Alexander, Susannah (19 September 2023). "Inside Soap Awards announces final shortlist for 2023 ceremony". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 July 2023). "Inside Soap Awards 2023 announces full list of nominees". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.