Joey Essex reveals he is filming a BBC documentary about his mother Tina’s suicide and how her death impacted him as a child
- If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
Joey Essex is filming a BBC documentary about his mother Tina’s suicide and how her death impacted him as a child when he was just ten-years-old.
The new show called Joey Essex: Who Am I? – which will air this autumn – will follow the former TOWIE star, 30, as he speaks about the impact of her death in psychotherapy sessions.
The TV personality will also discuss how as an adult he created a series of personality ‘masks’ to help him deal with the trauma he endured as a child.
Tragic: Joey Essex is filming a BBC documentary about his mother Tina’s suicide and how her death impacted him as a child when he was just ten-years-old (pictured in 2019)
Speaking to The Sun about the show he said: ‘This documentary is really close to my heart. Going on this journey to find the real me will be a personal challenge.
‘But I hope it also highlights how important it is that other people who have experienced trauma know that they’re not alone.’
The aim is to help the Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins contestant move forward with his life.
Heartbreaking: Tina took her own life in 2001 after a battle with depression when Joey was ten and his sister Frankie Essex was 13 (Joey is pictured with Tina when he was a child)
Tina took her own life in 2001 after a battle with depression when Joey was ten and his sister Frankie Essex was 13.
A spokeswoman for the show said: ‘Behind the picture-perfect exterior is a man whose life and identity are in turmoil.
‘Like so many kids affected by sudden trauma, he learnt to hide his true feelings behind a series of ‘masks’ — the joker, the charmer and the TV heart-throb.
‘Joey’s found it increasingly difficult to drop the act and truly be himself. He realises that it’s now time to confront his trauma.’
Emotional: Last year Joey’s sister Frankie Essex shared this picture of their mum to mark Mother’s Day
In May, Joey moved viewers to tears as he emotionally discussed his mother’s suicide on the survival show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Joey told the show hosts that he was only able to say the word ‘mum’ in recent years.
He then told the officers: ‘I believe I am tough inside. Growing up wasn’t easy.’
When they pressed him on why, he said: ‘I had to deal with a lot of s**t. My mum committed suicide when I was 10 which was difficult.
‘It hardened me up a little bit. I can’t explain it. It’s made me tougher inside.’
Joey then emotionally revealed: ‘I only sort of started being able to talk about it openly, saying the word mum three or four years ago.’
Siblings: Tina died when Joey was just ten and his older sister Frankie was 13 (they are pictured together earlier this year)
He continued: ‘I know my mum loved me. But it has given me trust issues. One day she was there one day she was gone.’
Viewers were quick to take to Twitter to share how moved they were by the emotional moment.
Joey’s older sister, Frankie, has said that her mum did not seek help for her depression which led to her death.
Talking to the Mirror back in 2013, she said: ‘Mum hid it. It’s the silent ones, the ones who don’t speak, that you need to be worried about.
‘She had to be strong for us and strong for my dad. She had everything she ever wanted but she didn’t know where to go in the end. If I wasn’t so young maybe I could have helped her. I wish there was more support for my mum. She hit rock bottom.’
On Mother’s Day this year, Joey took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late mum.
Posting a picture of him and his mum, he wrote: ‘Mum I’ve had to deal with missing you for all my life it seems way to long now, and it’s going to be forever I know that.
‘But one day I will see you again and give you a big cuddle and kiss. This is one of my favourite pictures we have together, I can remember this day like it was yesterday and we couldn’t stop smiling… Happy Mother’s Day.’
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
Emotional: In May, Joey moved viewers to tears when discussing his mother’s suicide on the survival show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins