Former TOWIE star Kirk Norcross emotional as he discusses his dad's death for the first time on Loose Women

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Kirk Norcross emotionally opened up about his dad's death for the first time.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star appeared on Loose Women ahead of the first anniversary of Mick's passing.

Kirk tragically lost his dad, who was his fellow TOWIE star and an entrepreneur Mick, to suicide last year.

An inquest in July heard that Mick took his own life amid financial concerns and deteriorating mood through coronavirus lockdowns.

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The businessman, who rose to fame as the owner of the Sugar Hut nightclub in the ITV series, died at his home in the Essex village of Bulphan on January 21, 2021, aged 57.

On Thursday, Kirk joined Loose Women for his first interview since his dad's death to spread a vital message of mental health awareness and support the show’s Stand by your Men campaign.

Speaking about the last year, Kirk said: "It's weird, I don't know if people will understand. It has been the quickest year ever and the slowest year ever. It’s so hard to explain. I’ve got a bit of a mental block.

"I can’t remember my dad being here, but I can like a dream."

When asked about why Mick didn't open up, Kirk said: "He is old school. He was a docker, he worked in the docks in the 60s and 70s and I believe that era in men, I don’t know if [they think] it's a weakness.

"It's not, you know. If my mate comes and says, 'I'm struggling', do you know how strong I think that person is?"

Kirk, 33, got tearful as he revealed how he spoke to his dad the morning he took his own life.

"I live next to my father, I was with him the night before," he explained. "That morning, I was having my breakfast, and he did what he usually did, which