Dancing on Ice star Darren Harriott has revealed he realised his dad was in prison when he rang him on his birthday – and he called the number back.
The stand-up comedian was then rocked just months after turning 11 when he troubled father Patrick committed suicide behind bars.
Darren, 30, said: “I remember him phoning me on my 11th birthday and I didn’t know where he was, so after his call, I dialled the number he phoned me from, and it was a prison.
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“Three months later, he was dead. He hanged himself there.
(Image: Jonathan Hordle/REX/Shutterstock)
“I loved him, even though I knew he was a bad boy. But he was still my dad. He was my hero back then.
“My dad didn’t live with us much. He was a drug dealer – he had flashy cars, gold chains and wads of cash.
“No wonder he got caught so often, he must have been the worst drug dealer ever!”
(Image: WireImage)
Former bouncer Darren admitted that he was involved in gangs when he was younger and he could have ended up in trouble just like his dad if he hadn’t found fame.
He said: “After dad died in March 2000, I started secondary school, and I didn’t have time to grieve properly.
“It was the time of garage music and So Solid Crew, and I got involved with some lads who all carried knives. I just thought that’s what you do.
(Image: BBC)
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“So, I did the same, I carried a knife. The streets in Birmingham at that time were really bad. There were lots of stabbings.
“Looking back, I feel very fortunate. I didn’t get stabbed, and I never stabbed anyone.
“But yes, my life could have been very different. Whenever I see the news today about kids being stabbed on the streets of London, I feel so lucky. Comedy saved my life.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
