Jennie McAlpine’s family share poignant snap of late dad

She broke down in tears on Wednesday night’s I’m A Celebrity, after revealing she signed up for the show in memory of her late father. 

And after watching Jennie McAlpine’s emotional scenes, her family showed their full support for the actress by sharing a poignant snap of her son Albert with her late dad Tom.

Her relatives posted a black and white Instagram shot of the pair holding hands and reassured that Tom – who passed away on March 2 – is ‘so proud’ of her.

‘He will be so proud of you’: Jennie McAlpine’s family showed their full support for the actress by sharing a poignant snap of her son Albert with her late dad Tom after she cried over his death on I’m A Celebrity

They wrote in the caption: ‘Oh Jennie…. He will be so proud of you #GoForItJennieWren #proud @itvimacelebrity #ImACeleb.’

Sympathetic fans flocked to the comments section to offer their condolences and send their well wishes to Jennie.

‘My heart aches for her. And this is a beautiful photo. One your beautiful boy will treasure forever,’ one wrote.

‘I cried with Jennie. What an incredible man Tom was. So proud to have known him. He’s so proud of you Jennie. Xxx,’ another added.   

Tribute: The snap comes after Jennie  broke down in tears on Wednesday night's I'm A Celebrity, after revealing she signed up for the show in memory of her late father

Tribute: The snap comes after Jennie broke down in tears on Wednesday night’s I’m A Celebrity, after revealing she signed up for the show in memory of her late father

A third fan claimed they met and had counselling with Tom and hailed him a ‘lovely man’ with a ‘heart of gold’.

‘Only just heard about your dad Tom,’ they wrote. ‘He was a lovely man with a heart of gold who did everything he could to help people with mental health issues that struggle. 

‘I had the pleasure of meeting him and had counselling with him. So sad to hear… god only takes the best ones! So sorry for your loss Jennie. He will be so proud of you and he thought very highly of you and it shown! RIP Tom.’ 

 Heartbreak: She said: 'I lost my dad earlier this year. We were like best friends, so he would have told me to do it'

 Heartbreak: She said: ‘I lost my dad earlier this year. We were like best friends, so he would have told me to do it’

The touching snap comes after Wednesday’s episode showed Jennie struggling to fight back her tears as she revealed her dad would have wanted her to take part, and had always encouraged her to ‘do things she was not brave enough to do.’

The rest of camp were quick to comfort her after her breakdown, with Jamie assuring: ‘He’d be really proud of you for doing this darling.’

The camp mates had been discussing why they chose to head into the jungle, when the upsetting incident occurred. 

RIP: Jennie's father Tom passed away in March. He was a mental health campaigner, and was even awarded an OBE for his services  (pictured together at the British Soap Awards in 2013)

RIP: Jennie’s father Tom passed away in March. He was a mental health campaigner, and was even awarded an OBE for his services (pictured together at the British Soap Awards in 2013)

When asked the question by Dennis, Jennie began: ‘Yeah, it’s been a funny old year…’ before the tears started to fall.

As the rest of her co-stars rushed around her, she explained through watery eyes that her father had passed away in 2017, and was doing the show in tribute to him.

She said: ‘I lost my dad earlier this year. We were like best friends, so he would have told me to do it. 

Emotional: ‘I said before I came, ‘He would have always told me to do things that I’m not brave enough to do,’ she added

Stay strong: Clearly affected by her story, her camp mates were quick to draw her in for a comforting hug

Stay strong: Clearly affected by her story, her camp mates were quick to draw her in for a comforting hug

‘I said before I came, ‘He would have always told me to do things that I’m not brave enough to do.’

Clearly affected by her story, her camp mates were quick to draw her in for a comforting hug – with Jamie assuring: ‘He’d be really proud of you for doing this darling.’ 

Jennie’s father Tom was a mental health campaigner, and was even awarded an OBE for his services to the cause in 2012.

He sadly passed away at home on March 2, with Jennie, who is best known as Fiz Brown on Coronation Street, confirming the sad news on social media.   

Doing him proud: Jamie assured her: 'He'd be really proud of you for doing this darling'

Doing him proud: Jamie assured her: ‘He’d be really proud of you for doing this darling’

 

 

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