November 19th 2024.
On the latest episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, the emotional atmosphere was palpable as former professional boxer Barry McGuigan opened up about the tragic passing of his daughter, Danika McGuigan. The 63-year-old was brought to tears as he shared the heartbreaking story of losing his daughter to bowel cancer at the young age of 33, only five weeks after her diagnosis.
Viewers watching the ITV programme were moved by Barry's raw vulnerability and praised him for being so open about his grief. They also commended the other celebrities in the camp for their support and comfort towards Barry during this difficult time.
Danika, also known as Nika, was born on January 4, 1986 in Northern Ireland to Barry and his wife Sandra. She had three brothers, including boxing trainer Shane McGuigan, and attended the Gaiety School of Acting and Bow Street Academy in Dublin.
Her acting career began in 2000 with a role in the film Malicious Intent. She went on to star in popular shows such as The Tudors, Hollyoaks: The Morning After the Night Before, and DAni's House. In 2013, Danika received critical acclaim for her role in the Oscar-nominated film Philomena alongside Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan.
Her final film role was in the 2020 thriller Wildfire, for which she was posthumously awarded the lead actress accolade at the Irish Film & Television Academy Film & Drama Awards. Director Cathy Brady revealed that the film was written specifically for Danika and praised her for her incredible talent and strength as an actress.
Sadly, Danika had battled cancer before when she was only 11 years old. She was diagnosed with leukaemia and underwent two years of chemotherapy before recovering. Barry shared on I'm A Celebrity that his daughter had gone to see a doctor after experiencing abdominal pain while filming a movie, leading to her diagnosis of Stage 4 bowel cancer.
Barry also spoke about the impact of the charity CLIC Sargent, which provided support for his family during Danika's first battle with cancer. In 2011, he became a patron of the charity and expressed his gratitude for their help during such a difficult time.
After Danika's passing in 2019, Barry released a statement with his family thanking everyone for their support and asking for privacy to grieve. He later appeared on The Late Late Show in Ireland where he spoke about his daughter and the immense pain he still feels from her death. He emphasized how important Danika was to their family and how much she loved her nieces and nephews.
In a 2005 interview, Barry revealed the impact of Danika's cancer diagnosis on their family and how she became an inspiration to them with her fighting spirit. Danika also spoke about how her father's determination and strength motivated her to persevere during her own battle with cancer.
The episode of I'm A Celebrity where Barry shared his story and his son Shane commented on the clip on Instagram, thanking the other campmates for comforting his father during this difficult time. The show will continue tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
For anyone affected by cancer, Macmillan Cancer Support offers support and information through their helpline, webchat service, and website. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, please get in touch with The Agency entertainment team via email, phone, or their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you.
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