ITV I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! series eight star Brian Paddick has spoken of his devastation after revealing his husband Petter has passed away. The Lib Dem life peer shared the tragic news with followers on social media yesterday (Feb 27), adding that Petter died "peacefully alone" in their Oslo home in Norway.
Explaining that Petter's cause of death is not "immediately apparent", he tweeted: "My beautiful, loving husband, Petter Belsvik, has died suddenly at our home in Oslo.
"He was found peacefully alone, with no cause of death immediately apparent. It will take some time to establish what happened. We were devoted to each other & I am devastated."
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It wasn't long before an outpouring of love and support came flooding in from fans and celebrity pals. Loose Women and fellow I'm A Celeb star Charlene White commented: "Oh my goodness Brian, I'm so so sorry… Sending you and the family my love xx."
Labour MP Jess Phillips penned: "Sending love." Sky News' Kay Burley tweeted: "My dear Brian, this is truly tragic news. All my thoughts are with you. Stay strong." Claire Fox added: "Oh Brian, how tragic. You have always spoken so lovingly of him. I am so, so sorry to hear this. Little to be said, except many will be thinking of you and sending as many positive thoughts of support as possible."
Although not much is publicly known about Petter's life, him and Brian met in a bar while on holiday in Ibizia. In 2009 they tied the knot at a ceremony held in Norway.
During the time of their wedding, same-sex marriage had been legalised a little over a week prior. It was one of the most high-profile weddings since the legislation was issued.
In 2009, Brian told the Daily Mail : "I was minding my own business on holiday in Ibiza when I met Petter. Inevitably, it was my last day and having spent just 24 hours together we parted with me believing I would never see him again."
When they met, Brian had been working 18 hours a day as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police at New Scotland Yard, while Petter was an engineer in Oslo. The pair went on to enjoy their relationship but often kept it out of the glare of the media.
Brian is a politician and retired police officer, currently sitting in the House of Lords as a life peer. He was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the London mayoral elections of 2008 and 2012. He took part in series eight of I'm A Celebrity and lasted for 17 days, finishing in seventh place.
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