IT is a toxic tale of drug use, “spying” claims and a ruthlessly aggressive public slanging match that has cast a dark shadow over the legacy of Jade Goody.
Today, The Sun can reveal the tense, behind-the-scenes machinations that have seen the late reality star’s mum, Jackiey Budden, and the father of her two boys, Jeff Brazier, reach the unlikeliest of ceasefires.
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In a shock twist, over recent days Jeff has unexpectedly backed down in his efforts to block contact between his youngest son Freddy and the boy’s grandmother.
This Morning star Jeff has quietly dropped his legal case against Jackiey after his son even threatened to flee the UK with his gran.
It was this fragile detente that saw Freddy, his Strictly star brother Bobby and their dad put on a surprising show of unity this week at a London theatre launch, where Jeff is appearing in 101 Dalmatians.
A source explained: “Freddy is back living with Jackiey again at her flat in South London, but still spending time with his dad and brother, too. Effectively they’ve all made peace for the time being and are trying to make things better again, which is doing them the world of good.
“It’s actually the perfect outcome for everyone, and exactly what Jade would have wanted. The boys are happier for it, and the constant in-fighting has stopped . . . for now.
“There’s no denying that Jackiey and Jeff will never be the best of friends, or even close, but for now it’s a peaceful solution.
“Granted, she still calls him a ‘c**k’ to her friends but, crucially, she never bad-mouths Jeff in front of his kids.
“Freddy remains devoted to her — and was threatening to leave the UK to be with his grandmother abroad if Jeff carried on his legal case.
“Even a few weeks ago, it looked as though things would never calm down again and he was still trying to use the courts to keep the two sides of the family apart.
“But the metaphorical white flag has been raised — there is peace.”
Angry backlash
Details of the bust-up first emerged earlier this year when TV host Jeff began bizarre court proceedings in a bid to block troubled Freddy, 20, from making contact with his grandmother — insisting her frequent cannabis use was a dangerous influence.
It sparked an angry backlash from the aspiring model, who raged that nothing would stop him from seeing his beloved “Nanna” — and they were later photographed smoking what appeared to be a cannabis joint together near her Bermondsey home.
Days later, Freddy revealed on Instagram he was preparing to check into a Marbella rehab facility in a bid to “get clean”, before making a swift U-turn and claiming: “I just need a holiday.”
He has also launched a series of furious tirades at his father behind the scenes — even accusing Jeff of spying on him and having him trailed by paparazzi to keep an eye on his behaviour — something the TV host fervently denies.
Another incident saw his father turn up unannounced at a London hairdressers to confront him about spending time with Jackiey.
It is understood Jeff has now parked his plans to pursue legal action, recognising that the expensive legal filings and potential court bid would do little to dissuade his son from contacting Jackiey.
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The pair have long been extremely close, and Freddy has regularly gushed about her important role in his life.
But he has also enjoyed a growing relationship with his dad in recent years, including appearing together on TV hit Celebrity Race Across The World, where their quirky but likeable double act proved popular with viewers.
Devoted Jackiey has insisted that she has only ever been a loving and supportive grandmother to both of her daughter’s children — and said she could never understand Jeff’s efforts to divide them.
She added: “All these years, I’ve been the closest thing to their mum.”
Meanwhile, Freddy has opened up a new battle after splitting from his girlfriend, Holly Swinburn, following a furious row between the pair, who are now accusing one another of wrong-doing in a dispute, with each threatening to escalate the row by involving the police.
In June, Freddy was spotted on a date with influencer Natasha Newcombe.
Jade, who shot to fame in Big Brother in 2002, passed away in 2009 aged just 27 after a harrowing battle with cervical cancer.
The run-up to her death, broadcast and documented in painful detail, gripped the nation and brought a surge in cancer screenings dubbed the “Jade Goody effect”.
Before she passed away, she begged Jeff to take care of her two sons, then aged just five and four.
He has always insisted he tried to do the right thing by them, often in private, steering them away from the spotlight in their early years.
But the tension between him and Jackiey — Jade’s eccentric and outspoken mum — has simmered ever since.
Jackiey, a former drug addict who raised Jade alone, was known for her brash style and fiery public appearances, including a famously awkward stint on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Jade in 2007.
Storm has calmed
She claims she has been unfairly sidelined over the years and struggled to maintain a consistent presence in her grandsons’ lives due to her feud with their father.
Freddy’s older brother Bobby, now 21, has taken a different path, enjoying a rise from quiet teenager to Strictly finalist and EastEnders heart-throb.
He has largely kept his distance from the drama and maintained a diplomatic relationship with both sides of the family, having instead devoted his time to the Hare Krishna movement after becoming involved with the religion in recent years.
He was seen this week wearing the group’s trademark orange outfit in central London as he took part in one of their rituals.
Insiders say Bobby has acted as a “peacekeeper” during the row, urging his dad and gran to let Freddy make his own choices — and speaking regularly to each of his relatives.
A friend said: “Bobby’s had a lot on his plate with work but he is close to Freddy and just wants everyone to get on for his sake. He misses Jade every day and knows that she wouldn’t want this fighting.”
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For now, it seems the storm has calmed, but whether the peace holds is another matter.
The boys remain at the heart of their late mother’s legacy, and will soon be the beneficiaries of a trust fund left to them, with instructions that it could not be accessed until they reached their mid-twenties — except for education and healthcare.
As one insider adds: “They’re growing up fast and have so many opportunities.
“And soon they will get the money Jade left for them too, which should give them the strong start in their adult life she always wanted for them.
“Hopefully the peace holds, but when it comes to Jackiey and Jeff, the next fallout could easily be just around the corner.”