The tragic downfall of Jake Hall as TOWIE star dies aged 35 after overcoming a near-fatal stabbing, dishonest scandals and spiralling money owed

As a talented footballer, entertaining reality star and handsome model there was a time when Jake Hall had the world at his feet. 

Yet in a tragic turn of events, Jake – who found fame on TOWIE in 2015 – was found dead in a Spanish villa with head injuries in the early hours of Wednesday morning after ‘smashing into a glass door’ during a party.

Hours before he died, Jake had shared a social media post in which he vowed to ‘remember the good things’ in a life that was ‘b******s’.

It was a poignant post for Jake, who had worked to overcome a life marred by setbacks and controversies. 

When he first made a name for himself on reality TV, Jake raised eyebrows with the treatment of his on/off girlfriend Chloe Lewis, with the pair’s turbulent relationship playing out on screen. 

He made his TOWIE debut as Chloe’s ex but quickly made a name for himself after kissing co-star Lauren Pope – a move he consistently denied until the truth eventually came out and left Chloe devastated. 

Yet Jake was ultimately able to win her back, with the pair going strong until rumours began to circulate that he had cheated on her with Megan McKenna. 

He later confessed to his infidelities during the series 17 finale in 2016, when the couple split in an explosive row that resulted in Jake admitting: ‘In eight years I’m not saying I’ve been 100 per cent faithful…’

That same year, Jake suffered from life threatening injuries when he was reportedly stabbed with a broken bottle in what is thought to have been a gang-related attack at celebrity hotspot Aqwa Mist.

He endured a lengthy stint in intensive care during his holiday to Costa del Sol, nearly losing a kidney after a group of Liverpudlian friends he was with squared up to a gang of violent Londoners at Marbella’s celebrity hangout. 

The two groups went for each other with broken champagne bottles and shards of glass from shisha pipes they had been smoking.

Police questioned the Essex native from his bed in the hospital but he was said to have been ‘fairly uncooperative’. 

Yet he was able to make a recovery from his injuries and continued to return to Marbella frequently for holidays. 

During one of his visits to the island, Jake raised eyebrows when he partied with an on-the-run drug smuggler who had been caught in one of the biggest ever cocaine seizures in the British Isles.

Fugitive Gerard Hagan posted photographs of Jake and his TOWIE co-star James Lock on days out together, including at sea and in a nightclub. 

Jake and James were said to have been unaware of Gerard’s criminal past, with a source telling the Sunday People: ‘They were having a great time with Gerard. They were living the high life – going to the best clubs, driving the best cars.’

The drug baron was jailed in 2008 after being found guilty of being involved in the shipment of £350million worth of cocaine off the Irish coast.

He was paid £5,000 for his role in attempting to smuggle 1.5 tonnes of the Class A drug into Britain from the Caribbean via Ireland.

Their plan unravelled when the group tried to transfer 62 bales of the drug from a yacht to a dingy.

The inflatable capsized in rough seas after being overloaded with the illegal cargo and accidentally being filled with diesel instead of petrol.

Gerard ditched the vessel and swam ashore, running to a nearby farmhouse for help.

However, he was eventually arrested and ended up with a ten-year jail sentence.

Two years later he was transferred from Ireland to HMP Kirkham, Lancashire, but absconded in 2012.

Police rearrested him on the Costa del Sol in 2013, sending him back to the UK where his jail time was extended by another six months.

He was soon released on parole but wanted by police not long later after breaching the terms of his licence.

Jake’s life then seemed to settle when he started dating Misse Beqiri, with the couple welcoming daughter River after a whirlwind romance. 

Missé, who was previously married to footballer Anders Lindegaard, had soared to fame on Real Housewives Of Cheshire, and the two reality stars appeared to be a match made in heaven.

However, in December 2018, seven months after Jake proposed, he was slapped with a restraining order following a row with Missé.

While no details were given in relation to what sparked the order, Jake’s barrister Martin Lewis told the court no physical violence had taken place.

At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Jake agreed that a ‘cooling off period’ may be a good idea to ‘keep the peace’.

The terms of the order, which were not read in court but were confirmed by a court official, stated that Hall must not contact the model directly or indirectly and must not attend Park Walk in Chelsea for 28 days.

District Judge Kwame Inyundo said: ‘Mr Hall, you know what the order is and you understand that any breach of the order is a criminal offence which could lead to anything up to imprisonment.’

Jake – formerly a midfielder for Boston United – and Missé also seemed to go through another rough patch the following year when they unfollowed each other on social media. 

Yet it wasn’t until 2021 that the pair officially called time on their relationship, with sources claiming that the murder of Missé’s brother Alex (also known as Flamur) had contributed to their split. 

The Mail on Sunday revealed that Alex was shot in the back while standing on his own doorstep on Christmas Eve in 2020. 

Police believed the killing which took place at his £1.7 million home could be part of a tit-for-tat drugs gang feud.

A source told The Sun: ‘Missé and Jake had a perfect relationship to start with but things started being quite rocky between them.

‘Their bond was tested after a series of difficult situations, including the tragic death of her beloved brother Flamur. It’s been really tough for them both and they struggled to make it work.

‘Missé has now moved into a new house and they are working hard to keep things as normal as possible for their daughter.’

The pair continued to amicably co-parent daughter River, eight, with Missé releasing a statement after Jake’s death. 

It read: ‘At this time, Misse’s focus is on supporting and protecting their child as they come to terms with this devastating loss…

‘The family ask for privacy, compassion and respect while they grieve privately’. 

In recent years, Jake was focusing on his finances after being forced to shut down his clothing brand Prevu.

His range had been popular with stars such as David Beckham and Matthew McConaughey but in 2023 the company went into liquidation.

Jake’s net worth was once tipped to be £5million thanks to the brand, but The Sun revealed in 2020 that he owed £1million to creditors.

He then focused his efforts on his second clothing company, By Jake Hall. 

Jake was found dead around 7.30am on Wednesday at a rented property in Santa Margalida with fatal head wounds, which are believed to have been caused by shards of glass.

A police source told The Sun: ‘We are focusing on the theory the victim died in a tragic accident after hitting his head against the glass door but it is still too early to say definitely what happened.’

A separate source added: ‘Witnesses told investigators he had been out partying all night and decided to carry on the party back at the place he was renting.’

Four men and two women are said to have been quizzed by police following the tragic incident. 

No arrests are thought to have been made, but an investigation, led by the Spanish Civil Guard, is ongoing. Jake’s autopsy is due to take place in Palma.

Hours before he died, Jake shared a video showing himself dancing, painting and enjoying the local scenery.

The post – set to the Rolling Stones’ classic Beast of Burden – was captioned: ‘Life is b******s sometimes but I’m gonna try remember the good things – ️ looking through things – I’m just making art – in many forms.’

Jake’s death comes less than two months after former TOWIE star Jordan Wright was found dead in Phuket in March, aged 33.

Jordan’s cause of death is yet to have been revealed, but an inquest into his death opened at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court this week. The case was adjourned until September 14.