CELEBRITY RACE ACROSS THE WORLD'S JACKIE SHARES HEARTBREAK AT LOSING FIRST HUSBAND

Celebrity Race Across the World's Jackie revealed she lost her first husband while she was pregnant, aged 22.

Actor Dylan Llewellyn's mum is competing on the BBC show alongside her son, who stars in Beyond Paradise. Earlier in the race, Dylan had spoken about the tragedy of losing his brother James, who had taken his own life aged 20. 

As the final leg approached, Jackie and Dylan took time to slow down together at a waterfall in the race. Jackie used this time poignantly to reflect on what happened in her life and how it changed her as a person. In emotional scenes, she shared her sadness at losing two people she was incredibly close to in her life.

What happened?

The mother said, "When I'm in nature, I feel like I'm close to heaven or something. I think through losses I have, I feel closer to them in those moments of serenity and beauty.

"When I was 22, I met my first husband. I was due to have my first son, James, on 19 December, and on the 21st December, there was a knock at the door. There were two fluorescent jackets. 'We just want to let you know your husband has been knocked over by a car and killed instantly.'

"I had James, and I found it very difficult on my own. I eventually got my act together, got on in life, coped and met Barry, who I married... We had Cameron, and then 10 and a half months later, Dylan came along. I had three little boys under three. It was absolute chaos." 

She later added, "Losing two people very close in my life has changed me as a person. When James had gone, I internalised it, trying to be brave — put a brave face on for the boys. It took me a while to be strong again. But I had to be strong as a mother to my boys."

Close mother-son bond

At the waterfall, Jackie confided in her son Dylan that she pushed herself out of her comfort zone. "Dad [husband Barry] not being here has made me push the boundaries of me as a person," she said.

Concluding it "made me grow", the mother admitted that she always relied on Barry to do things for her.

Dylan agreed that they had both shown courage in the race. He said: "We've had our little moments of braveness, it's cemented our bond even more. We support each other with James and things."

It was a touching moment as the actor thanked his mum for everything she has done for him in his life. "I would always help, love and protect you," she said. 

Dylan responded: "I want to protect you! You deserve the world. You're the best mum."

Jackie told him: "I'm really proud of the way you have grown up. You probably don't need me anymore."

However, Dylan was assertive: "No, I always need my mum."

Celebrity Race Across the World streams on BBC iPlayer.

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This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/celebrity-race-across-the-world-jackie-husband-dylan-llewellyn-210059517.html

2025-12-04T21:17:30Z