Joey Essex: when is BBC documentary Grief and Me on TV - and what happened to reality star’s mum Tina Essex?

In the documentary the 30-year-old reality star opens up about losing his mother when he was ten after she took her own life
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Joey Essex’s new BBC Three documentary ‘Joes Essex: Grief and Me’ is set to air tonight (3 June).

Best known for his persona on The Only Way is Essex, the star has teamed up with psychologist Stephen Blumentahl to confront his grief.

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The new documentary will follow Joey Essex embark on a deeply personal journey to take stock of his life (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grabThe new documentary will follow Joey Essex embark on a deeply personal journey to take stock of his life (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grab
The new documentary will follow Joey Essex embark on a deeply personal journey to take stock of his life (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grab

In the documentary the 30-year-old reality star opens up about losing his mother when he was ten after she took her own life.

What is Joey Essex: Grief and Me about?

The new documentary will follow Joey Essex embark on a deeply personal journey to take stock of his life and , for the sake of future, finally confront his past.

At the age of just ten, Joey's world was ripped apart when his mum tragically took her own life. Unable to comprehend the loss, Joey has spent the next 20 years of his life burying his grief.

The new documentary will follow Joey Essex embark on a deeply personal journey to take stock of his life (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grabThe new documentary will follow Joey Essex embark on a deeply personal journey to take stock of his life (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grab
The new documentary will follow Joey Essex embark on a deeply personal journey to take stock of his life (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grab
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With the help of a clinical psychologist, Dr Stephen Blumenthal, Joey sets out to finally face the impact his beloved mother’s death has had on him. Up until now, he has only really opened up about his childhood with his family, but even his sister Frankie and cousin Chloe recognise that he has never truly processed his feelings or fully faced his bereavement. Opening up to a psychologist and learning to trust Stephen will be a tough first step.

What happened to Joey Essex’s mum?

Joey Essex’s mum, Tina, died on suicide when he was ten-years-old, and his sister, Frankie, was 13.

At first, both the children were told their mum had died after falling, but later discovered the truth.

Talking to the Mirror in 2013, Frankie said that their mum did not seek help for her depression which led to her death - (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grabTalking to the Mirror in 2013, Frankie said that their mum did not seek help for her depression which led to her death - (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grab
Talking to the Mirror in 2013, Frankie said that their mum did not seek help for her depression which led to her death - (C) Objective Media - Photographer: Screen grab

His mum had developed an infection called candida before she died, a yeast infection that causes various symptoms including stomach problems, fatigue, joint pain and depression.

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Talking to the Mirror in 2013, Frankie said that their mum did not seek help for her depression which led to her death.

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“Mum hid it. It’s the silent ones, the ones who don’t speak, that you need to be worried about,” she said.

“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.”

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One day, on a Friday, their mother Tina dropped Joey and Frankie off at school as usual, but that was the last time they would see their mum. Tina then went shopping and later spoke to Frankie briefly on the phone about dinner.

Later Frankie and Joey were told by their dad that their mum had died. They heard the terrible news at their nan’s house.

Joey has said he didn’t want to know the details for years and was convinced as a child that his mum was just staying in a hotel and would eventually come back. However he eventually learned the truth although finds it hard to talk about it. In his autobiography, Being Reem, Joey opened up about how his mum’s death affected him.

What time is Joey Essex: Grief and Me on?

Joey Essex: Grief and Me will air on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday 3 June.

The documentary will also be available on BBC Three on iPlayer from 6am on 3 June.

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