[Jackie]

DISTRAUGHT Big Brother 8 star Liam McGough is grieving after his mum Christine died from multiple sclerosis.


Pals say the reality TV star keeps breaking down after his beloved mother lost her battle with the illness last week.

The hunk, 24, is so depressed by her death he can barely leave the house.

One friend said: “Liam is devastated. He is suffering from depression.

“The whole family knew this day would come but it doesn’t make it any easier.

“He is trying to be positive and be grateful that she’s no longer in pain but it is hard to feel that way when you have just lost the person you love most in the world.”

Liam finished third on last year’s show after auditioning in the hope he could help Christine’s quality of life if he won.

Her condition was so bad when he entered the house that producers were warned to pull him out if her condition deteriorated.

The former tree surgeon’s dreams seemed to have come true when his fellow housemates awarded him £100,000 during a shock twist days into the series.

Liam, from Sunderland, who is dating BB9 evictee Stephanie McMichael, 19, used the cash to pay for more care for Christine, 59.

But she passed away last week – less than a year after Liam left the house.

It is believed his Big Brother pals Ziggy Lichman, 27, and Brian Belo, 21, went to Christine’s funeral.

The friend added: “Liam hoped the money would create a better life for his mum. He would have done absolutely anything for Christine.

“They were incredibly close, as is the whole family. The news has knocked him for six and is making him question everything about his life.

“He would swap all the money in the world to have his mum back.”