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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Sam Elliott-Gibbs

Brenda Edwards admits she's working overtime to stop thinking about her late son's death

Brenda Edwards says she pushes herself to the limit because she can't bare to think too much about tragic son Jamal.

The Loose Women star is mourning the loss of the 31-year-old, whose sudden death was announced in February.

Jamal collapsed and died at his west London home and mum Brenda has shared how she is coping ten months on.

During a debate sparked by actor James McAvoy's comments regarding slowing down his schedule, the panel discussed the positives and negatives about working too much.

Brenda says she isn't planning on taking a break until next Christmas - and prefers things to be intense.

Brenda Edwards says works overtime to take her mind of tragic son Jamal (mirror.co.uk)

Having downtime only allows thoughts that she doesn't welcome to creep into her mind, she told Janet Street-Porter, Kelle Bryan and host Coleen Nolan.

The 53-year-old said: "I never stop, I'm like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland. Busy, busy busy!

"I think it's normal for me, it works for me with my mental health and my physical health.

"It has gone up a lot since February, since Jamal passed.

She is finding ways to cope ten month after his tragic death (jamaledwards/Instagram)
She's close with co-star Brenda Edwards, whose son Jamal Edwards recently passed away (jamaledwards/Instagram)

"To be straight, I don't want to stop - if I stop it leaves with thoughts that I don't want.

"I don't want to deal with that. I want to keep focused. It helps.

"I look up and keep my faith. I believe Jamal is watching me saying 'go on mum, you can do this, keep doing it!'.

Janet said Jamal may be worried she is pushing herself too hard because he loved her so much.

"Well we all know he worked 15 times what I did. I'm happy. I get my eight hours sleep!

"Stop being worried, I'm fine."

Brenda said she may not take a proper break until next Christmas! (mirror.co.uk)

Janet said: "I'm worried. I've been pushed to the brink by wanting to achieve."

Brenda added: "I've got a slow-down window next year.... next Christmas!"

A coroner ruled Jamal died of a heart attack brought on by alcohol and cocaine.

The inquest heard that on the night Jamal died he returned to his home in Acton around 4am after playing a DJ set in north London.

He then sat up drinking with his friend Nick Hopper, who was living in an annex of the house at the time.

Mr Hopper said that after a while Jamal became erratic and paranoid and started throwing things around before collapsing.

He grew up in Acton, west London and went on to found SBTV, a music platform which helped launch the careers of Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, Stormzy and Dave.

He was even awarded an MBE for services to music in 2014 at the age of just 24 and was an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.

Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV and ITV Hub.

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