Jake Quickenden's 'mad diet' before cage fight clash and 'emotional' POB night

09 October 2023 , 10:12

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Jake Quickenden's 'mad diet' before cage fight clash and 'emotional' POB night

Jake Quickeden made an appearance on the glitzy Pride of Britain red carpet last night as hundreds of stars came to support and celebrate the nation's heroes.

He was arm in arm with his stunning wife Sophie Church, who wowed fans with a daring cut-out red gown and a slick back hair do.

Former X Factor and I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here runner-up Jake admitted he had his tissues at the ready to hear the inspirational stories from the night's award winners, and explained it was his wife Sophie's first time attending the Mirror's highly coveted event.

Opening up about how much he loves the Pride of Britain awards as he waltzed down the red carpet, Jake told the Mirror: "As soon as I hear the stories and the people's lives and what they have been through I always find myself getting emotional, it's real life.

"You're unaware of it sometimes and it makes you realise how lucky you are. Pride of Britain makes me emotional every year, I love this event. It's always such a privilege to be here. It's sad, it's inspiring and it's brilliant."

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Currently on tour with The Full Monty and preparing for his first ever professional cage fight, Jake has been preparing to enter the ring to take on stand-up comedian Paul Smith in four weeks. He said: "I'm ready, I've been on a mad diet, but I can't wait for it to be over so I can eat. I wanted to do it to challenge myself, I like challenging myself and showing people you can push yourself."

It comes days after Jake revealed the heartbreaking final moments he had with his younger brother who sadly passed away from bone cancer 13 years ago.

He admitted it's taken him years to get over his "health anxiety". Speaking to the Mirror, Jake said: "My mum phoned and said Oliver's taken a turn for the worse, so I went round to his house. Oliver was just shutting down and I had my last conversation with him.

"I told him I loved him and he kind of came round and told me he loved me. About half an hour later he was gone. It was as quick as that and traumatising and ­upsetting for everybody. I think it's one of the reasons why I get health anxiety. It took me years to process the fact not every lump, not every headache is going to be [cancer]."

Watch The Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards with TSB on Thursday at 8pm on ITV1.

Niamh Kirk