TV star Jake Quickenden has said he’s received horrible messages about the tragic loss of his brother.
The Dancing on Ice star and former X Factor contestant has been targeted for sharing the story of his late brother Oliver, who lost his battle with bone cancer in 2012 at the age of 19.
Known to Jake as Olly, his death came just four years after they also lost their father, Paul, to the disease.
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Jake, 29, told the Daily Star Sunday: “I’ve had things about my brother. People said ‘Sob story, sob story.’ Do they want me to never talk about the fact I’ve been through something like that?
“It’s something that’s changed me as a person. It’s made me grow.
“And me talking about it can help other people. So for me, if it helps 100 people but five people don’t like it, I couldn’t give a [bleep].
“People do get personal but you’ve got to think ‘if they are giving you insults and stuff then they’re probably not happy with themselves’. So I feel bad for them because something’s obviously upsetting them.”
Read more: Dancing on Ice viewers baffled by Holly Willoughby’s dress tonight.
Last weekend viewers saw Jake honour his dad and brother with a special performance on Dancing On Ice, which comes to end of its four-month run tonight.
Jake was visibly emotional after receiving a perfect 40 in the skate, prompting Holly Willoughby to ask him: “How does that feel? That can’t have been easy for you. Are you okay?”
Phillip Schofield said Jake’s whole family would be proud, while judge Chris Dean choked up as he repeated that sentiment, telling Jake how good he’d been.
Bookies have made Jake, who is paired with professional skater Vanessa Bauer, the favourite to win Dancing On Ice 2018.
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But he faces competition from Corrie actress Brooke Vincent and Scottish rugby player Max Evans.
There was doubt over whether Jake would skate in the final after he dislocated his thumb on Tuesday, but he quickly assured fans he had no intention of pulling out, and will skate with it bandaged.
Best of luck Jake.
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