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Channel 4 reportedly making new doc on Jade Goody’s legacy

Show to be broadcast 10 years on from Big Brother star's death

A new documentary about Jade Goody is being made a decade on from her death, according to reports.

The new series for Channel 4, called Jade, will look at the reality star’s career highs, as well as lows, before her life was prematurely cut short by cancer, The Sun reports.

“Jade’s life was full of ups and downs, and Channel 4 wants to celebrate the effect she had on reality TV,” a source told the paper.

Jade Goody
Jade died of cancer in 2009 (Credit: WENN)

The Sun said the documentary will be made by Jonathan Smith, who worked with Jade when she appeared on Celebrity Wife Swap in 2003.

He said: “I want to make a series that tells the story of her celebrity and the indelible impression that Jade and reality television made on our culture.”

As well as looking at the impact Jade had on reality TV and the cult of celebrity, the programme will also explore how she changed lives following her death in 2009.

Jade found fame on Big Brother in 2002 (Credit: Endemol/Channel 4)

ED! has contacted Channel 4 for a comment.

Jade died of cervical cancer at the age of 27 after admitting she hadn’t attended regular tests which may have diagnosed her earlier and saved her life.

Read more: Paul O’Grady working on new doc with Great Ormond Street Hospital

Her death prompted more women to be vigilant about their own cervical screening.

A study conducted in 2012 found: “Jade Goody’s diagnosis and death were highly publicised and were marked by a substantial increase in attendances in the cervical screening programme in England.

“It is likely that the increased screening resulted in a number of lives saved.”

The publicity also led to a review of NHS policies on the ages women can be offered screening, and from 2008, the HPV vaccine was routinely offered to teenagers girls to help protect them against cervical cancer.

South East London born Jade first found fame on Big Brother in 2002, where she made viewers laugh with her daft comments such as “is East Angular (Anglia) abroad?”

After being voted out of the house in fourth place, she remained a tabloid favourite and signed a number of deals to keep herself firmly in the public eye.

She brought out a dance fitness DVD and appeared on a number of shows including Celebrity Driving School and Wife Swap.

In 2006, she got her own fly-on-the-wall show, Just Jade.

Meanwhile, in her personal life she had two children, Bobby and Freddie, with TV presenter Jeff Brazier before they split in 2004.

She then caused a racism row when she went on Celebrity Big Brother in 2007 after clashing with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

She subsequently apologised for any offence caused and then went on to appear on the Indian version of the show, which is where she learnt of her cancer diagnosis.

Before her death, she married boyfriend Jack Tweed, and their wedding day was filmed to create another reality show.

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Her sons were just three and four when she died and have been raised by Jeff.

This week he shared new pictures of the boys, showing they are “growing up fast” as he prepares to marry Kate Dwyer later this year. He also revealed Bobby has hopes of becoming a model.

The Jade documentary is expected to be broadcast in 2019.

Will you watch the Jade doc? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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