I'm A Celeb's Barry McGuigan in tears over daughter Danika's death

Watch: Barry McGuigan breaks down while sharing his emotions about the loss of his daughter.

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Barry McGuigan from I'm A Celebrity has expressed his deep sorrow, saying it feels "impossible" to cope with the loss of his daughter, Danika, and he was in tears while discussing it.

The boxer talked about Danika's passing in 2019, which occurred only five weeks after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, during his appearance on the ITV1 show. Following his departure from the show, he chatted with Good Morning Britain, becoming emotional once more on Friday as he shared his feelings of loss.

McGuigan expressed that he would never truly move on from the loss. He mentioned, "Loving someone the way I loved her makes it nearly impossible to get through this."

The What, How, And Why Explained

Barry McGuigan was visibly emotional as he discussed his sorrow regarding his daughter, Danika. (ITV screenshot)

Barry McGuigan touched the hearts of Good Morning Britain viewers during a heartfelt interview, where he spoke through tears about the loss of his daughter, Danika.

The I’m A Celebrity contestant broke down in tears while in the jungle as he shared his feelings about Danika's death at the age of 33 due to bowel cancer. He became emotional once more during an interview with the ITV1 morning news show following his departure from the camp.

When Rob Rinder and Kate Garraway inquired about how he opened up about his sorrow to his fellow campers, McGuigan became emotional. He shared, "It's the hardest thing I've ever faced. Losing my daughter five years back was terrible. My wife and I will never truly get over it, but I am finding healing as time passes. I used to struggle just to mention it. I understand how crucial it is to discuss it, and I feel that she's still with me in some way."

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Barry McGuigan's daughter Danika passed away in 2019. (PA Images)

He added, "It’s really heartbreaking because her life was filled with so much sorrow, especially during a pivotal period when everything seemed to be going well for her. Then she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. My wife, Sandy, and I haven’t truly moved on from it, and I doubt we ever will. However, as time goes by, we learn how to cope with the pain, and Danny (Jones) has faced similar challenges in his life."

Danika passed away in 2019, only five weeks after receiving her diagnosis of bowel cancer. When she was younger, she had battled leukemia, from which she successfully recovered, and later pursued a career in acting.

When asked if being in the jungle made it simpler to discuss grief, McGuigan responded affirmatively: "In the midst of the trials, competitions, and challenges, the only thing you can really do is talk. Jane Moore mentioned something about a wonderful child, which refers to a tattoo I got on my arm after losing Danika. That was all I needed..."

Barry McGuigan appeared on the reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here in 2024. (ITV)

McGuigan was emotional once more as he shared, "I get choked up whenever I mention her. People often tell me to move on, but when you care for someone as deeply as I cared for her, it feels nearly impossible. I do my best to manage it, and I believe it will improve over time, but dealing with her loss and the immense sadness and pain it brought is just really difficult."

One viewer shared their thoughts on X: "I feel so sorry for Barry; he's such a wonderful person and incredibly brave for continuing to speak out about his sorrow!"

Someone else commented: "Barry McGuigan, continue to speak out and express your sorrow for your precious daughter who succumbed to cancer. Time and conversation can be powerful sources of healing."

Someone else commented: "Watching Barry McGuigan discuss his feelings about loss and open up on @ITVGMBritain has me questioning why he didn’t win @imacelebrity. He's a great guy."

Barry McGuigan's Thoughts After I'm A Celebrity

Barry McGuigan has been eliminated from I'm A Celebrity. (Shutterstock/ITV)

On Thursday night, both McGuigan and Maura Higgins exited the jungle during a double eviction. The boxer expressed his frustration at not being able to participate in the celebrity cyclone challenge.

Once he left, hosts Ant and Dec inquired with McGuigan about his close relationship with McFly member Danny Jones during their time in the camp.

He expressed, "It really lifts my spirits. All of my children are the same age as him. He jokes around with me, and I don’t mind at all; in fact, I really enjoy it. I truly believe he has the makings of a future king. He's a wonderful guy, and we share a lot of similar interests. My father was a musician, too, and I appreciate his creativity. Those were really fun times."

Good Morning Britain broadcasts on ITV1 at 6 AM from Monday to Friday.