In a profoundly moving moment on BBC's Celebrity Race Across The World, Derry Girls actor Dylan Llewellyn and his mother Jackie opened up about the extraordinary double tragedy that has shaped their lives, leaving viewers in tears.
A Waterfall Confession in Panama
The emotional revelation came as the mother and son team, racing towards a checkpoint in Colombia, stopped to swim at a picturesque waterfall in Panama. Surrounded by cascading water and serene beauty, 33-year-old Dylan and his mother Jackie found the space to discuss the immense losses they have endured.
Jackie Llewellyn described the moment her life changed forever. Her first husband was knocked down and killed by a car just as she was about to give birth to their first child, James. She was 48 hours past her due date when police arrived at her door on December 21st to deliver the devastating news.
"I had James and I found it very difficult on my own," Jackie shared, describing her struggle to cope as a single mother before eventually rebuilding her life. She later found happiness with her second husband, Barry, and had two more sons, Dylan and Cameron.
A Second Unimaginable Loss
Tragedy struck the family for a second time two decades later. James, the son Jackie had raised after his father's death, took his own life at the age of 20. Dylan was just 16 years old when he lost his older brother, whom he described as his hero.
"Losing two people very close in my life definitely has changed me as a person," Jackie confessed to the cameras. "When James had gone I'd internalised trying to be brave and put on a brave face for the boys. It took me a while to be strong again, but I've had to be strong as a mother to my boys."
For Dylan, the pain of his brother's absence is ever-present during their global adventure. "I just wish he could take my place and do this, do all this and travel the world," he said. "But he never got to. He lived life to the full... He was my hero."
A Guardian Angel on the Journey
Both Jackie and Dylan have expressed a powerful sense that James is with them in spirit throughout the race. Jackie described feeling closer to her lost loved ones during moments of natural serenity, like the waterfall.
"I think through losses I have, I feel closer to them when I'm in those moments of serenity and beauty," she said, adding that it feels as though James is their 'guardian angel' who is 'racing with us.'
This sentiment was echoed around a campfire with fellow contestants, including Roman Kemp, who was visibly moved and wiped away tears. Kemp offered comforting words, saying James would be laughing along with their journey.
Dylan explained his motivation for the race was deeply tied to his brother's memory. "Doing this race is like doing it for my brother and my mum," he stated. "He would have loved to do something like this... He would be proud of me I think."
Viewer Reaction and Dylan's Career
The raw honesty of the segment resonated deeply with the audience at home. Many took to social media platform X to express their emotion.
One viewer wrote: "I love Dylan and his Mother so much. It has been so moving hearing their story." Another commented on Jackie's strength: "Poor woman. How strong do you have to be to deal with that?" A third simply stated: "Dylan's Mum had been thru so much heartbreak. They are genuinely lovely people who deserve to do well."
Dylan Llewellyn, born in Reigate, Surrey, is best known for being the only male lead and the only English core cast member in the hit Channel 4 sitcom Derry Girls. He attended a specialist school for children with autism, developmental language disorder, and dyslexia. Unlike many of his peers, he did not go to drama school, instead building his career with roles in soaps like The Bill, Hollyoaks, and Holby City before his breakout role. He has since appeared in shows including Call the Midwife.
The latest episode of Celebrity Race Across The World showcased not just the physical challenge of the competition, but the profound emotional journeys of its participants, with the Llewellyn family's story of love, loss, and enduring connection striking a particularly powerful chord.
