I'm A Celeb star Danny Jones' dad speaks out on rift after not speaking to his son for almost 20 years

I'm A Celeb star Danny Jones' estranged father has shed light on the cause of their long-standing family feud. The McFly frontman, 38, who is among the celebrities participating in this year's ITV series, hasn't had contact with his dad Alan Jones, 72, for nearly two decades.

Alan, a radio DJ, parted ways with his former wife Kathy in 2005, a year after his introduction to his current wife Sharon. Alan and Sharon initially socialised as part of a larger friend group, but their friendship evolved into a more "intimate" relationship after enduring a "very bad two years" with Kathy.

In an interview with MailOnline about the origins of their relationship, Alan shared: "This sounds strange, but I used to hang out with a gang of girls who were worse than the blokes, and Sharon was part of that group. We used to go out and get drunk in the town, it was good fun, and me and Sharon got closer and closer."

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Alan and Sharon exchanged vows in 2007 and relocated to Benidorm in 2016. Reflecting on his separation from Kathy, Alan admitted: "It was quite a bitter divorce that dragged on far too long. It could have been resolved a good few thousand pounds earlier."

He further told the publication: "I feel as though he's [Danny] painted himself into a corner and he doesn't know how to get out. I think because he loves his mum so much he's protected her, and I think any reunion with me, and this is only my opinion, would upset his mum, and I don't think he wants to do that, and I understand that."

Alan was not on the guest list for Danny's wedding to Georgia Horsley in 2014, and he hasn't had the chance to meet his six year old grandson Cooper yet. He expressed his longing to meet the young lad, saying: "I keep my fingers crossed that one day it will happen".

Emotions have been running high in the I'm A Celebrity camp, with Danny shedding tears over his struggle with anxiety. It came as he was questioned over the tattoo on his wrist that reads: "Don't worry, be happy".

He elaborated: "It's because I'm always constantly worrying, but that's what I'm working on." Going deeper, Danny disclosed that he has been undergoing therapy since he was 19 to manage his anxiety.

Revealing he hadn't had an anxiety attack since 2013, Danny said: "At times it was so horrible.. I experienced claustrophobia, coming out in cold sweats, feeling a band tightening around my chest and worrying I was having a heart attack."

"It's so scary and I've felt like I was dying on occasions. You can't believe your body can do that to you. I was also plagued with dark thoughts I couldn't control."