2 days Ago By Evening Standard
Ant McPartlin has admitted he was "moved to tears" after watching I’m A Celebrity contestant speak openly about the grief of losing his daughter. The 49-year-old presenter shared that seeing McGuigan become emotional over his daughter Danika's passing "really got to him" during a discussion with co-host on ITV2’s Unpacked on Monday. During the main show, viewers praised Barry for his bravery in addressing his loss, as he reflected on Danika's death in a heartfelt moment aired on Monday night.
McPartlin, who welcomed his first child earlier this year, shared with hosts Joel Dommett, Kemi Rodgers, and Sam Thompson that he had seen the emotional scenes before they aired, admitting: "That really got me. 'We watched it earlier in the day, before the show, and I was crying. I can't imagine losing a child and he didn't want to go there but he couldn't help it.
“I thought the campmates were really lovely with him.” The Northern Irish boxer shared his heartbreak on Monday's episode, speaking about the loss of his daughter Danika, who passed away at just 33 in 2019 following a battle with cancer. McGuigan revealed that she faced significant health challenges from a young age, having been diagnosed with leukemia aged 11.
He told the camp: “She had when I was making the movie The Boxer with Daniel Day-Lewis, three weeks from the end I had to leave because she’d been diagnosed with leukaemia. “They thought she wasn't going to get better but she fought back and she won it. She had two years of chemo.
” As he began to cry campmates gathered around who also praised him for his strength and vulnerability. The sports star shared: “Thank you, you're all so lovely, I really appreciate it.” He later told Loose Women's Jane Moore about Danika's second and final bout with cancer.
McGuigan said through tears: “She had pains in her tummy but she was making the movie, she put it off and went to the doctor, called us all in. “Stage 4 bowel cancer, five weeks, five weeks she died.” Danika, professionally known as Nika McGuigan, appeared in films such as Philomena, Mammal, and Wildlife.
She attended Benenden School in Kent, once attended by Princess Anne, before earning a drama degree in Dublin. Danika was McGuigan’s only daughter, growing up with her three brothers: Shane, Jake, and Blane. Fans described the emotional moment the “most moving in history” as all the campmates were left in tears down while supporting the former athlete.
That was one of the most moving moments in the history of I’m a celeb. Such a likeable bunch - put them all in the final!!! — Kev B (@KB3471) Barry McGuigan is an inspiration to so many men, young and old, who may be struggling with their mental health and feel lost. If a hardened boxer can express his feelings, so can you — Mike Kavanagh (@MikeRobinKavs) One viewer wrote on X: “That was one of the most moving moments in the history of I'm a celeb.
Such a likeable bunch - put them all in the final!!! #ImACeleb”. “Barry McGuigan is an inspiration to so many men, young and old, who may be struggling with their mental health and feel lost. If a hardened boxer can express his feelings, so can you,” another penned.
A third added: “The level of respect I have for Barry McGuigan. He has just had me in tears for 20 minutes I can’t even imagine the pain he is going through as a father and to display emotion so openly. I just wanna give him a hug.
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