Billy Brownless suffers family tragedy after I’m A Celebrity exit

Billy Brownless has suffered a heartbreaking family loss during his stint in the jungle. The Footy Show star later paid tribute to his lost loved one online, days after being booted from reality series.

Billy Brownless was hit with a family tragedy after leaving the jungle. and Dale Thomas

Footy Show star Billy Brownless has suffered a heartbreaking family loss while taking part in the reality series, I’m A Celebrity …. Get Me Out Of Here!

Brownless’s father, Anthony ‘Tony’ Brownless, 82, passed away while the former Geelong champion was in a remote South African jungle camp competing on the Channel 10 reality show.

Brownless was voted off the show on Tuesday, January 21 – incredibly, and sadly, that was the same day that his dad passed away in Victoria.

After exiting the show, the footy larrikin wasted no time in departing South Africa, heading straight home to Australia where he was met at the airport by his four children, Lucy, Ruby, Oscar and Max.

A thanksgiving service was held for his dad in Jerilderie, New South Wales, on January 29.

Brownless, known for his love of ‘froffies’, used the hashtag #havingabeerfordad as he marked his 53rd birthday the day before the thanksgiving service.

Brownless was greeted at the airport by his four children including Oscar, Ruby and Lucy. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Ten would not comment on Saturday as to whether Brownless was informed of his father’s declining health while he was in the jungle camp on I’m A Celebrity or if he was offered the chance to leave the show early. He was certainly carefully supported by the Ten team after leaving the camp.

Brownless had been a good sport for Ten, bringing his trademark easygoing, joke-around style to the show, especially during the tucker trials and physical challenges.

But he also struck a sympathetic chord with viewers when he spoke about his marriage breakdown four years ago and the difficult adjustment required to his life following the separation.

While he has had a very public life first as an AFL footballer and then as a TV and media personality, Brownless has never been one to speak at will or at length about his personal life.

Brownless, who is part of Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show and Triple M’s Rush Hour show with James Brayshaw, was unavailable for comment on Saturday.