Jake Quickenden reflects on trying to contact his late father via medium

Jake Quickenden has reflected on what it was like trying to contact his father through a medium.

The former X-Factor and I'm A Celeb star was just 19 years old when he lost his father, Paul, to bone cancer. A few years later he also lost his younger brother, Oliver.

Earlier this year, the 34-year-old enlisted the help of Discovery Plus' Help! My House is Haunted team to try and get in touch with his late father.

Jake has since reflected on the process, what he actually got out of trying to get in touch with his father's spirit and whether he'd recommend other people who've lost loved ones to do the same.

Jake tells Tyla he thinks it's 'always a risky one' trying to get in touch with someone who's passed away.

"You're always gonna get sceptics and saying it's not real and stuff," he reflected.

However, Jake admits he 'quite likes the spiritual side of stuff' and thinking 'there's an afterlife'. He also hopes he'll 'go to heaven', despite not being 'that religious'.

"I like to think this somewhere that potentially I'm gonna see the people I've lost again. It's [...] a nice thing to think that one day you'll be reunited," he added.

Instagram/@jakequickenden

Paul passed away before Jake went on shows such as X-Factor, I'm A Celeb and SAS: Who Dares Wins.

The 34-year-old was left with the lingering question of whether or not his dad was 'proud of him' and his achievements.

"I guess it's something that's weighed on my mind for a lot of years," he continued. "My dad didn't really get to see me in the best light. I was always a good enough kid, but he saw me being a brick layer and playing a bit of footy and I never felt like I'd made him that proud. Which I probably did..."

Jake also started suspecting some paranormal activity was going on his house and that was the extra push he needed to get in touch with Celebrity Help! My House is Haunted.

Discovery Plus

The paranormal investigator team came round to Jake's house, and using an app called Echo Vox seemingly contacted Jake's dad, with the 'spirit voice' captured on the app saying: "Dad's here."

At the time, Jake grew emotional and broke down in tears, but looking back on the experience, how does he feel now?

Well, Jake isn't sure he 'really got the answers' he wanted on the programme.

"I think he said dad through a radio and I'm sure it sounded like something totally different. But [...] I just accepted it was Dad," he said.

Instagram/@jakequickenden

Whether it was his dad or the psychics who told him his dad's presence was there, Jake didn't really need the confirmation in the end anyway.

"I know my dad isn't far away," he said. "And he would be proud. [And] it's nice to think when I might be in a time of need, there's someone looking down on me, looking after me. [...] And he has looked after me quite a few times. So I'm pretty happy."

On reflection, Jake wouldn't say trying to contact someone who's passed away is 'the best way of trying to deal with grief'.

He resolved: "Stay away from the Ouija boards and that. But, for me, it was really enjoyable. It was a really nice show to do [...] and I'd love to believe in an afterlife - I believe in ghosts. So yeah, it was it was a nice process.

"But I'd say it's probably not the best way of dealing with grief. [...] There's better ways. I'd say opening up and talking to friends and family is better than trying to contact the ghosts."

Tyla has contacted Discovery Plus for comment.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.