Jade Goody‘s widower Jack Tweed has weighed in on the mystery surrounding his late wife’s ‘missing’ millions, questioning whether her sons will benefit as she intended.
It’s been 15 years since Jade passed away from cervical cancer, tragically leaving behind Freddy and Bobby, who were just four and five at the time.
In the months leading up to her death, Jade worked tirelessly to secure big money deals that would benefit her sons, famously being paid £700,000 to feature her wedding in OK! magazine.
Yet little is known about how much of the millions Jade accumulated during her life are left, and questions have been raised over exactly what may have happened.
Now Jack has raised questions over several of Jade’s prized possessions, telling the Daily Mail that he wants to know what happened to the £200,000 ring that was gifted to her by Prince Azim of Brunei, and houses she had bought for sons.
‘I don’t know what’s happened to it at all,’ Jack admits. ‘There was a load of jewellery as well – someone had that – there was quite a lot of money. One of the rings was about 200 grand or something.
‘It’s sad. I always got told she had a few houses, and a couple of them were for Bobby and Freddy when they turned 18 – and I don’t know where any of it went.’
Jade Goody’s widower Jack Tweed has weighed in on the mystery surrounding his late wife’s ‘missing’ millions, questioning whether her sons will benefit as she intended (pictured in 2009)
It’s been 15 years since Jade passed away from cervical cancer , tragically leaving behind Freddy and Bobby, who were just four and five at the time (pictured in 2006)
Revealing that he didn’t concern himself with Jade’s finances before she passed, he explains: ‘Well, at the time I didn’t want to get involved in any of that.
‘Number one, I didn’t want to believe that Jade was actually going to pass away. I didn’t believe it – I always thought she’d just get through it some time – so I didn’t want to even talk about that.
‘And it it wasn’t really me, it was Jade’s money wasn’t it, so it was nothing to do with me.
‘She left it to the trustees, which was a few people to sort it all out, but I don’t know what’s happened to it at all.’
There is no suggestion that any wrongdoing has occurred with Jade’s finances.
In 2011, two years after her death, it was reported that Jade’s £3million estate had taken a huge hit due to a £1.8million tax bill – allegedly as a result of four years worth of unpaid income tax.
Her sons’ father Jeff Brazier later claimed there were later more tax issues related to her beauty salon in Essex.
Other funds taken from the trust were spent on rehab for Freddy, now 20, as well as education.
Freddy attended a state school, which was better suited to his needs due to his ADHD, while Bobby, 22, attended fee-paying school Bishop’s Stortford College.
However, it’s been reported the profit from her home in Ongar, Essex, where she died, is still held in trust for her sons.
There is also said to be an investment property which will be split between the boys when they reach 25, along with any cash in bank accounts.
Freddy endured challenging teenage years, revealing that he got hooked on cannabis at just 12 years old, but he is now determined to turn his life around after his model ex fell pregnant
One month after Jade’s death, Jack was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for assault, and as a result was banned from seeing the sons by their father Jeff (pictured: Bobby, Jeff and Freddy)
Yet concerns over Jade’s finances have resurfaced as her son prepares to welcome his first child.
Freddy endured challenging teenage years, revealing last month that he got hooked on cannabis at just 12 years old, but he is now determined to turn his life around after his model ex-girlfriend fell pregnant.
While many expressed their concerns over Freddy becoming a father at such a young age, Jack insists that it will be the making of him.
Noting that he was just 19 when he first met Jade and helped raise Freddy and Bobby, he muses: ‘I’m pleased for him.
‘It was a surprise for him, but I’m hoping – along with everyone else – that it might do him the world of good. It makes you grow up. I was younger than Freddy is now when I met Jade!
‘I know after Jade went away, I went down a wrong path… but at the beginning, it does really make you grow up and shows you what really matters in life – not those doughnuts that he’s been hanging about with.’
At times, Jack’s relationship with Freddy and Bobby has been strained.
One month after Jade’s death, Jack was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison for assault, and as a result was banned from seeing the sons by their father Jeff.
Yet now, he maintains a good bond with Freddy, revealing: ‘Now he doesn’t speak to [his grandmother] Jackiey, I’m probably the only one who makes him feel close to his mum.
‘So, yeah, he trusts me and he does tend to open up to me. I speak to him quite a lot, we’re friendly.
‘I haven’t really given him too much advice about fatherhood, it’s just early stages at the minute, but I’m going to meet up with him next week, and then we’ll catch up.
‘For now, it’s more about just concentrating on him being on the right path and making sure he’s going to be alright to be there as a dad, which is what he wants.’
Jack mused: ‘I don’t want to slag Jeff off, I want nothing to do with it, but I think he put a lot of pressure on Freddy and Bobby’ (Jeff and Jade pictured in 2003)
It’s been a turbulent time for Freddy, who revealed in March that he struggles with both bipolar and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
He recently revealed that he was sectioned during his mental health struggles and claimed grandmother Jackiey Budden got him hooked on drugs aged just 12.
The TV personality was also embroiled in a feud with Jeff, who attempted to cut off his contact with Jackiey.
Now he is expecting to welcome a child with his ex-girlfriend, whom he split from acrimoniously following a string of rows – which even saw the pair make allegations to the police.
Yet despite the circumstances, Jack says that Jade would be pleased at the thought of becoming a grandmother.
‘She wanted her kids to have a nice life, a better upbringing than she did,’ he explains.
‘As long as they were happy, Jade was happy. So she would have done everything she possibly could to help him.’
On what he plans to say to Freddy as he prepares to become a father, Jack shares: ‘Just concentrate on yourself. Don’t worry about what anyone else is saying or thinking about you.
‘He’s a good kid, he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He might not know what he wants to do in life, but he wants to be successful and he doesn’t want to waste away.
‘He’s a lovely kid. Even from a young age he was just so caring.’
Freddy recently revealed that he was sectioned during his mental health struggles and claimed grandmother Jackiey Budden (pictured) got him hooked on drugs aged just 12
In some ways, Jack may be the perfect person to help Freddy to come to terms with the hardships he faces.
By his own admission, he made many mistakes following Jade’s death – all of which have been very well documented.
‘I was portrayed as some horrible person when Jade passed away,’ Jack recalls.
‘I was 21 then, all my friends were going out and I needed to go out and stop thinking about Jade. Then we would all be having a drink and stuff would happen.
‘Of course it’s not right, but then I was portrayed to be a scumbag while Jeff was seen as a godsend and the perfect dad.
‘I don’t want to slag Jeff off, I want nothing to do with it, but I think he put a lot of pressure on Freddy and Bobby.
‘He’s all about his “super dad” image, and I think he cares a lot about that.’
Recently, Jeff hit headlines after he launched a legal bid to stop his youngest son from seeing Jackiey amid rising concerns over his wellbeing.
He later dropped the case, amid claims Freddy was threatening to leave the UK to be with his grandmother abroad if Jeff carried on the case.
The legal battle came as no surprise to Jack, who simply muses: ‘Since I’ve known them, they’ve hated each other.
‘I’m not surprised by the way things were handled because Jackiey doesn’t care about her image as much.’
In some ways, Jack may be the perfect person to help Freddy to come to terms with the hardships he faces. By his own admission, he made many mistakes following Jade’s death (pictured in 2006)
In June, shocking images emerged of Freddy and his grandmother smoking suspicious looking cigarettes on the street, with onlookers reporting that Jackiey was behaving ‘erratically’.
‘It would be the last scene in the world that Jade would want to see,’ Jack sighs.
‘I never really say too much bad about Jackiey. I think she knows what’s right and wrong, but what people seem to forget is that Jackiey went through a lot when she was younger.
‘And then imagine losing your daughter, your only daughter. She’s gone through a tough time.
‘Jade used to do absolutely everything for her, rang her every single hour to make sure she was OK. To go from that to nothing is tough.
‘I might not agree with everything Jackiey does, but I will never slag her off.’
Jack confesses that he reached out to Jackiey amid reports of her legal battle with Jeff but he didn’t hear back and doesn’t know if she received the message.
‘I just don’t want her to feel left out and lonely,’ he explains. ‘It’s not nice for anyone.
‘That’s exactly how I felt after Jade passed away and when Jeff banned me from seeing the boys.’
He does, however, agree with Freddy taking a step back from seeing Jackiey in the meantime.
‘It’s really tough because Freddie lived with her for a while so I know that he loves Jackiey to pieces,’ he muses.
I know it’s really hurting him at the minute. But until he sorts himself out it’s probably for the best.
‘It’s not all to do with Jackie, but he did live with her and maybe it was that area, he was mixing with the wrong crowd and going down the wrong path…
‘I did the same when I was younger so I can’t judge.’
Last month, it emerged EastEnders actor Bobby is planning on quitting showbiz and moving to India to pursue the Hare Krishna religion, with Jack stating their relationship has cooled
While Jack hopes that he can impart some wisdom on Freddy by referencing his own experiences, he admits his relationship with Jade’s older son has cooled recently.
Last month, it emerged EastEnders actor Bobby is planning on quitting showbiz and moving to India to pursue the Hare Krishna religion.
The Strictly Come Dancing star is reportedly hoping to spend at least a year abroad, after immersing himself in the movement this summer.
The Daily Mail previously revealed that Bobby turned to the organisation – which follows a branch of the Hindu faith – after relations became strained between himself, Freddy and Jeff.
‘We’re a bit more distant now,’ Jack confesses. ‘We were getting quite close but now he’s been focusing more on Hare Krishna.
‘I wasn’t expecting him to do that but if it makes him happy then fair play and good for him. If that’s what he needs and it’s keeping him out of trouble, then good.’
