Floppy-haired and perpetually grinning, Bobby Brazier quickly became a Strictly Come Dancing favourite, and his frequent declarations of love for pro partner Dianne Buswell warmed fans' hearts. Yet behind his bubbly persona lies a childhood of family tragedy, as his early life was blighted by his mum Jade's tragic battle with cervical cancer.
Jade Goody was a contestant on the third series of Big Brother, way back in 2002, and finished in fourth place. She then juggled a reality show career with raising Bobby, now 20 and an up and coming EastEnders star, and his younger brother Freddie, who is 19.
When she returned to the Big Brother house in 2007, she was embroiled in a racism storm over comments she made to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
The episode resulted in a record-breaking number of complaints to Ofcom - more than 44,000 - and bosses then chose to screen Jade's eviction from the Big Brother house without a live audience, in case chaos broke out.
Shilpa chose not to lodge a complaint and Jade apologised, stating: "I didn't say it in a racial way, I do not judge people by the colour of their skin."
Shilpa originally accused her of racism, before retracting her statement with the words: "People say things in a fit of anger and I stand corrected... Please clarify and put this as a statement - that I don't feel there was any racial discrimination happening from Jade's end."
Bobby was just a toddler at the time, but the worst was yet to come after Jade received a devastating diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2008.
By February 2009, her cancer was terminal and she died just one month later when Bobby was five.
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Bobby has since heartbreakingly revealed that he no longer misses his mum, following her death in 2009, as he feels "too young" to fully remember her.
However, he once revealed that he'd trade anything to be able to see her famous smile, to understand why it has been compared to his own.
She worked right up until her death in a bid to save money for her boys' future, and Bobby has since fulfilled his mum's wishes for him to become a success, modelling for Dolce and Gabbana, dancing on Strictly and winning a huge role on EastEnders as Freddie Slater.
The award-winning actor expressed his love for his mum before poignantly revealing to The Times: "I'm always being told about her and what she meant to people. I guess I know my mum through other people's memories of my mum!"
Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour, featuring Bobby and co, kicks off this evening in Birmingham and ends on February 9 at London's 02 Arena. Tickets can be purchased here.
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