Topics: Im A Celebrity, ITV, TV And Film, Reality TV, Celebrity, Health, Cancer
We may only be two episodes into the brand new series of I'm A Celeb, but one campmate has already reduced viewers to tears.
In a heartbreaking admission, former boxer Barry McGuigan lifted the lid on the tragic passing of his daughter Danika in 2019 - who died aged 33 following a bowel cancer battle.
As well as reaching for the tissues, the emotional scene from last night's show (18 November) subsequently saw fans heaping praise onto the sportsman for one particularly gut-wrenching reason.
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It's been five years since 63-year-old Irish-born Barry tragically said goodbye to his beloved daughter Danika McGuigan, and he still feels that devastation to this day.
'Nika', as she was known by her family, worked as an actress prior to her 2019 death. She appeared as Danielle Mullane in the popular comedy-drama series Can't Cope, Won't Cope, and bagged roles in star-studded blockbuster Philomena and spy-thriller The Secret Scripture.
Barry and his wife Sandra's only daughter, as a child, Danika had battled acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, but was given the all-clear after two years of treatment.
Sadly, however, aged just 33, she was diagnosed with bowel cancer and died surrounded by her family in the months that followed.
Speaking about his loss on IAC last night, Barry - who is also father to three sons, Shane, Jake and Blane - was comforted by his camp-mates as he reflected on the final month of Danika's life.
"I've tried to talk about it..." he began. "Those horrible weeks in the hospital, just watching her. It was shocking.
"She had leukaemia, when I was making The Boxer with Daniel Day Lewis, three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia, they thought she wasn't going to get better but she did, she fought back and she won it.
"She had two years of chemo. But she was good."
He added of her second cancer diagnosis in the years that followed: "She had pains in her tummy but she was making the movie, she put it off and went to the doctor, called us all in.
"Stage 4 bowel cancer, 5 weeks, 5 weeks she died."
Breaking down in tears, Barry received hugs from his ITV co-stars, including Melvin Odoom, Tulisa Contostavlos, Oti Mabuse and Jane Moore, all of whom were visibly overcome with emotion.
And as we say, the heartfelt moment has earned the boxing promoter mass praise from viewers - many of whom described it as refreshing for a man of his age and from his predominantly 'masculine' industry to be exhibiting such raw emotion.
"Seeing an ex-professional boxer crying on national television is so important for young men to see #imaceleb," one fan penned on social media in the minutes after the tear-jerking scene.
A user on Reddit also went on to gush: "Comes across as a kind hearted, genuine soul. I hope his ability to be open and show emotions sends a message to men that it is absolutely ok to cry and grieve."
"He's a gentle, sensitive soul. If you didn't know you'd never guess he was a boxer," another added.
A third continued: "I hope it gives men the courage to grieve openly especially if they see a boxer doing it, it doesn’t mean they are weak by feeling real emotions."
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