Good Morning Britain viewers accused hosts Kate Garraway and Rob Rinder of ‘setting a trap’ for I’m A Celeb‘s Barry McGuigan after asking ‘unfair’ questions on Friday’s instalment.
The former boxer, 63, looked visibly emotional while opening up about his late daughter Danika in his first interview after being eliminated from the jungle on Thursday.
Host Rob, 46, chatted to Barry – who appeared directly from Australia’s Gold Coast – and admitted: ‘My mum is a huge fan of yours. It is because of how kind you are.’
The presenter continued praising Barry’s ‘courage to speak on challenging topics’ and added: ‘A lot of people were really touched by the power of you talking about your grief,’ before asking: ‘Why should we talk about it?’
The Irish star looked visibly emotional attempting to answer the questions as he fought back tears.
‘It’s the most devastating thing that has ever happened to me,’ he admitted.
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Good Morning Britain viewers accused hosts Kate Garraway and Rob Rinder to have ‘set a trap’ with ‘unfair’ questions to I’m A Celeb’s Barry McGuigan, 63, on Friday’s instalment
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The former boxer looked visibly emotional while opening up about his late daughter Danika in his first interview after being eliminated from the jungle on Thursday
‘Losing my daughter five years ago was dreadful. I never recovered from it, nor my wife. But I get better as time goes on,’ the TV favourite continued.
Viewers of the daytime show remarked that Barry appeared ‘uncomfortable’ during the slew of personal questions, despite doing his best to remain composed.
Plenty of fans rallied in support of Barry on X, praising his ‘courage’ and ‘authenticity’ – while also slamming the ‘tactless’ questions of the two hosts, writing:
‘Crass question to Barry McGuigan from you should be ashamed #disgrace’;
‘@GMB shame on you guys. Disappointing to see you ask Barry McGuigan about his daughter again on live TV. Is it to help the ratings that you keep milking the man’s loss of his loved one? Why do you do that?’;
‘Why has GMB asked Barry McGuigan about his daughter, Kate and Rob on live TV this morning, made the poor man go over the death of his daughter made it made uncomfortable viewing’;
‘Bloody hell @GMB making Barry McGuigan cry’;
‘Shame on you, guys. Stop milking the man’s loss. Why are you doing this bringing up Barry’s grief on live TV? Disappointing’;
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‘Losing my daughter five years ago was dreadful. I never recovered from it, nor my wife. But I get better as time goes on,’ he said attempting to reply the questions emotionally
Plenty of fans rallied in support of Barry on X, praising his ‘courage’ and ‘authenticity’ – while quickly slamming the ‘tactless’ questions of the two hosts
‘My heart went out to Barry this morning, I felt it was totally unfair how he was put on the spot to talk about his daughter.’
‘Who, on God’s green earth, is telling Barry McGuigan to “get over it” People are vile #gmb’;
‘My heart went out to Barry this morning, I felt it was totally unfair how he was put on the spot to talk about his daughter’;
‘I don’t think Kate would have appreciated if Barry would have turned the table around & asked her about her late husband or her media company being in debt live on air to the nation. Don’t get me wrong I like Kate but I think she went s bit far this morning’;
‘My heart is breaking for Barry god bless him, lovely man and so brave to keeping talking through his grief!’
‘Watching and well Barry you’ve set me off I lost my baby boy and it truly is heartbreaking and no you should never be told to get over it but as you said people do. You was awesome in the jungle and a great man’.
The boxing promoter might have left the jungle for good – but he certainly won the nation’s hearts after bravely discussing the loss of his daughter Danika in 2019, five years after she lost her battle with cancer at the age of 33.
During his stint on I’m A Celeb, Barry sadly revealed that his daughter Danika never lived to see the acting role that could have been her big break.
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The boxer was praised by I’m A Celeb fans for speaking about Danika’s passing in 2019, five years after she lost her battle with cancer
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Danika’s final on-screen role included a leading part in Wildfire (pictured left) weeks before losing her battle with cancer
Following Danika’s death, Wildfire had its Irish premiere at Barry McGuigan Park in the Co Monaghan town of Clones, with the sportsman describing it as ‘a fitting tribute’ to his daughter
The actress had starred in the thriller Wildfire, but died a year before it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020.
Barry shared that the film received critical acclaim following its release, and Danika had ‘done all this work to get to where she was’ before her passing.
Wildfire focuses on two reunited sisters who discover secrets from their mother’s past, with Danika playing one sibling with Nora-Jane Noone as her co-star.
The film won the IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award at the London BFI Film Festival, and Nika was posthumously honoured with the Lead Actress in a Film award at the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Film and Drama Awards.
Following Danika’s death, Wildfire had its Irish premiere at Barry McGuigan Park in the County Monaghan town of Clones, with the sportsman describing it as ‘a fitting tribute’ to his daughter.
He said: ‘Our hearts are broken that Nika is not here to see the success of her last performance but my family and I are comforted to see it on the big screen with our friends, family and the community in Clones.
‘It is a fitting tribute to her legacy and exceptional talent. My sincere thanks to Wildcard Distribution, the amazing volunteers in Clones Film Festival and the support of all in Monaghan County Council.’
Danika McGuigan passed away surrounded by her ‘devastated’ family after losing her battle with cancer aged 33 in 2019.
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Danika’s death following a ‘brave battle with cancer’ was announced by her family in a statement on July 24, 2019 (pictured in 2011)
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On the fifth anniversary of her death, the boxing champion wrote on social media: ‘Five years today Nika, we miss you so much’
She struggled with her health from a young age, after being diagnosed with leukaemia when she was just 11 years old.
Speaking to Belfast Live in 2021, Barry admitted he will ‘never recover’ from losing a child but will try his best to ‘move on with life’.
He said: ‘I lost my daughter two years ago, and it’s been shocking. I’ll never recover from it.
‘My life will go on, but I’ll never be the same because family means everything to me.’
On the fifth anniversary of her death, the boxing champion wrote on social media: ‘Five years today Nika, we miss you so much.’
Danika had starred in films including Philomena, Mammal and Wildlife and was known as Nika McGuigan in her professional work.
She attended Princess Anne‘s old school Benenden in Kent before completing a drama degree in Dublin.
A family statement at the time of her death read: ‘It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of our beautiful daughter and sister, Danika ‘Nika’ McGuigan.
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Fans dubbed the ’emotional’ moment the ‘most moving in I’m A Celeb history’ as all the campmates broke down in floods of tears while supporting Barry
‘After a brief but brave battle against cancer, Nika passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday, July 23, surrounded by her loving family.
‘As a family we are devastated and ask for complete privacy during this difficult period to allow us to grieve for our Nika.’
Danika was Barry’s only daughter whom, alongside her three brothers Shane, Jake and Blane, he shared with wife Sandra McGuigan.
Shane has followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming one of boxing’s most successful trainers.
Speaking of his daughter’s cancer diagnoses in 1997, he told The Sunday Times in 2005: ‘Finding out that Danika had leukaemia was like being hit with a sledgehammer.
‘There’s nothing worse than your child getting sick. No amount of fighting in the ring could have prepared me for it.’
After about a year and a half out of school, Danika returned to normal life – and in a heartbreaking conversation with her father – said she wouldn’t get sick again.
He continued: ‘She found a love of drama and is now at acting school in Dublin. The word ‘dynamo’ doesn’t do her justice.
‘With Danika the glass is never half-empty and never half-full. It’s completely full. In fact, it’s probably spilling over.’
I’m A Celeb viewers were gutted on Thursday evening as they bid farewell to Irish stars Barry and Maura Higgins in a shocking double-eviction.
The hit ITV show airs in the Republic of Ireland – and has done since the show began in 2004 – but viewers living in Ireland are not able to vote.
Some fans took to X to express their displeasure at the voting result and insisted both Maura and Barry would’ve survived if their Irish fans could vote for them.
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Irish viewers of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! were not happy they can’t vote in the show after Irish stars Maura Higgins and Barry were eliminated on Thursday
They wrote: ‘It’s actually a joke that Irish viewers can’t vote’… ‘This wouldn’t be happeing if Ireland could vote.’
‘What’s the deal with the Irish not being able to vote on I’m A Celebrity! It’s 2024 you have Irish contestants let us vote.’
‘This wouldn’t happen if Ireland could vote’… ‘WTF the only two Irish people left it’s so unfair that Ireland can’t vote.’
‘Two Irish celebrities in the jungle, yet no one in Ireland can vote. Inevitably the two Irish are voted out!’
‘Petition for the country of Ireland to be allowed to vote because this is ridiculous.’
