X Factor's Jahmene reveals sibling suicide tragedy

X Factor's Jahmene reveals sibling suicide tragedy
X Factor's Jahmene reveals sibling suicide tragedy

X Factor finalist Jahmene Douglas has opened up further on his traumatic past, revealing that his brother Daniel tragically committed suicide four years ago. The 21-year-old, who has previously spoken about suffering abuse at the hands of his father, also told the Sunday Mirror that Daniel, who was just 23 when he died, saved his own life after he attempted suicide himself. "I couldn’t see a way out, so I locked myself in the bathroom and tried to take a load of pills," Jahmene told the paper. "But Daniel smashed through the door and said 'are you being stupid, do you know how much we all love you?'. He saved my life that day." He added that his brother had been an "inspiration" to him. "He was an amazing person, who excelled at everything he did. When things were at their worst with dad, talking to him helped me escape mentally," Jahmene said. "We kept each other going. Then, when I was at my very lowest he was there for me. He literally saved my life. He told me I had something to live for because my family loved me so much. "Three year later things just got too much for him and he broke. I think killing himself was his way of taking back some power from our dad. Jahmene said that his brother's suicide note had also inspired him to pursue his singing, telling him it "helped other people". "Something like that never leaves you. It's embedded in you. That and the fact I can raise awareness of domestic violence is the reason I’m doing this," he said. Jahmene, who is one of the favourites to win the series, wowed the judges once again on Saturday night's Best of British-themed show with his rendition of Robbie Williams' Angels.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.