Bobby Brazier quits UK for new country after finding new religion

Bobby Brazier is seemingly chasing the American Dream.

Best known to UK audiences for his stint playing Freddie Slater on the iconic soap EastEnders between 2022 and 2025, as well as partnering up with Dianne Buswell on Strictly Come Dancing, the 23-year-old is the son of Jeff Brazier and Jade Goody, who lost her life to cervical cancer in 2009.

In a shock to his thousands of online fans, Brazier made a startling announcement on social media after being confronted by a model casting agent out on the street.

A video of their encounter cropped up on TikTok, with the young star explaining why he couldn't take part in a 'test shoot'.

"You know I'm actually moving to New York," he said. "Well I say New York, in New Jersey."

As for when Brazier plans to take this big leap; next month.

Bobby Brazier has announced that he's off to America on a permanent basis (Instagram/@bobbybrazier)

Reports were circulating last year that Brazier had fallen out with both his father and brother, Freddy, and had since strongly pursued the spiritual movement of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

At one point, he was even alleged to be emigrating to India, so it's clearly a period of flux for him.

"Bobby is really excited and happy about his move to India," claimed a source for The Sun. "He's been telling everyone about it and preaching to them about why he is devoted to Hare Krishna.

"He's such a nice young man, his heart is in the right place, but some people are surprised that he's walking away from his career at a time when he's on such a high with it. He says he expects to be over there for a long while, at least a year, so maybe he will pick up on his career eventually when he's back."

The 23-year-old reached Strictly's grand final in 2023 (Instagram/@bobbybrazier)

Such is Brazier's dedication to the faith - commonly known as the Hare Krishna Movement, a branch of Hinduism utterly devoted to the eponymous deity - he's immersed himself in the local Soho temple.

A volunteer at the temple told MailOnline: "He's here every Saturday without fail. He joins our kitchen session, learns the prayers – this isn't a gimmick."

One of the Brazier family's friends added: "Bobby had a difficult life. His mum dying left a mark on him, as it would. Hare Krishna is somewhere he seeks solace. It might seem strange, but for him, it works."

It is estimated that somewhere between 1 and 10 million people engage with Hare Krishna worldwide.