Vinnie Jones has said that he talks about his wife’s death so that he can try and “turn it into a positive” by encouraging men to open up about their feelings.
Tanya – Jones’ wife of 25 years – was 53 when she died in July following a years-long battle with cancer.
The footballer-turned-actor added that he is putting together a book with his daughter about his late wife in the hope that it gives men an “insight” into how to deal with grief.
Speaking to Frank Warren’s heavyweight podcast, Jones said: “It doesn’t get any harder than what has happened to us.
“I want to try and turn it into a positive.
“I’m trying to turn this into a positive and help other blokes because as you know blokes try and stick their head in the sand.
“Whether it is this prostate cancer thing to go and get checked up, or whether it is dealing with grief, going to speak to somebody.”
He added that men have become like “cave men”, adding: “I think blokes have got to liven up and definitely be more mature about it and say, ‘look, I do need a bit of help here’.”
He added that grief does not “get better very quickly”.
“You learn to deal with it and you learn to be stronger with your family,” he said.
Jones has previously opened up about his grief following his wife’s death in a number of interviews.