Misse Beqiri, the mother of former TOWIE star Jake Hall's daughter, has spoken publicly for the first time about the 'worst thing' she has ever had to do: telling their eight-year-old child River that her father had died. Hall, 35, was found dead at a holiday villa in Majorca last month. His funeral was held earlier in June at St Mary the Virgin Church in Wanstead, East London.
'Is This Really Happening?'
Beqiri, a 39-year-old Swedish-Albanian model, told The Sun that she remains in disbelief. 'Even today, I keep thinking: 'Is this really happening?' Getting that call from his family to let me know, I remember that I kept saying, 'there's no way', and then everything went black.' She described the phone call as 'the worst phone call I've ever had in my life.'
Hall, who ran the menswear brand By Jake Hall, joined the cast of The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 and left in 2024. He previously dated co-star Chloe Lewis and later Beqiri, with whom he shared daughter River. Beqiri also has an 11-year-old son, Julian, from her marriage to Danish footballer Anders Lindegaard.
Telling Their Daughter
Beqiri revealed that breaking the news to River was the hardest part. 'I know I keep saying this but it didn't feel like it was real for me to have to tell my child that her dad had passed. She was really upset, of course. We're trying to keep her in her routine, but when I took her back to school, she said: 'Do people know I don't have a dad now?' It's so much for her little brain to process.'
River is now receiving therapy. 'She's got her grandparents and all the rest of Jake's family and friends, as well as my family. Her brother also helps, as they are very close. He lives in Denmark but their love is insane,' Beqiri added.
Navigating Grief
Beqiri noted that her children have helped her navigate her own grief. 'I could have easily ended up in a mental health retreat – I've been twice in the last five years. I'm not sleeping well. Jake and I might not have been together but I always knew he was there if I needed him.' She previously lost her brother, Flamur 'Alex' Beqiri, who was shot dead on his doorstep in Battersea, London, on Christmas Eve 2019.
Cause of Death Unknown
An inquest heard that Hall's body was repatriated to the UK, but a post-mortem examination at East Ham Mortuary was unable to determine the cause of death. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said at the time: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Beqiri wants Hall to be remembered as 'an amazing dad, creative and fun. When I think of him, I see him dancing and smiling with his big mouth.' She added, 'He had so much love for River. They had a beautiful relationship. That's what breaks my heart – I know he would never want to leave her. He will live on in her.'
