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Nikki Grahame

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Nikki Grahame
File:Nikki Grahame1.jpg
Born (1982-04-28) 28 April 1982 (age 42)
Watford, England
OccupationReality TV star
Websitewww.specialnikkigrahame.com

Nicola Rachele-Beth Grahame[1] (born 28 April 1982 [1] in Watford, Hertfordshire[2]) is an English model, columnist [3] and television personality, who rose to fame in the UK when she was chosen to be a housemate on Big Brother 7 in 2006. Grahame became renowned for throwing temper tantrums[4] — behaviour that divided viewer opinion during her time on Big Brother[5] and subsequently led to her being given her own reality television show entitled Princess Nikki.[4] Grahame won a National Television Award for most popular TV contender in 2006,[6] and featured in a series of advertisements for Domino's Pizza. As of 2007, Grahame writes a regular column in OK!'s "Hot Stars" magazine. She appeared in the tenth series of Big Brother, competing in a Silent Disco task against Karly Ashworth, as part of the Big Brother UK Tenth Anniversary Celebrations.

Grahame spent most of her adolescence in psychiatric hospitals, battling with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, a condition that left her comatose and near death at the age of 12.[7] The Big Brother production company, Endemol, was criticised for including her in the programme and endangering her fragile mental state in favour of viewing figures.[8]

Early life

Nikki Grahame and her older sister Natalie[9] were born to parents Susan and David Grahame.[10] Grahame describes her childhood as the "happiest ever",[7] however a series of upsets followed, when at the age of eight, her parents divorced and her grandfather, whom she was extremely close to, died from cancer.[7] Grahame was raised by her mother, Susan, after her parents' separation.[10] Grahame — who has been described as a "daddy's girl" — was really hurt by the split.[9] During this time Grahame attended gymnastics classes and began showing early symptoms of the eating disorder anorexia — feeling inadequate and fat in her leotard. She began cutting out food as a means of gaining control and keeping her mother close to her.[7]

Anorexia nervosa

Grahame's disorder continued to escalate until her parents had her admitted to the children’s eating disorders unit at the Maudsley psychiatric hospital in London.[7] She was kept in for six weeks and then released, however she continued to starve herself and several months later she was rushed to an emergency unit at Hillingdon Hospital, London, where she was force-fed through a nasal tube.[7] She was then transferred to Collingham Gardens child and family psychiatric unit in West London, where her weight was increased and after eight months she was allowed home.[7] For 18 months Grahame remained at home and attended Northwood secondary school in Hillingdon, West London,[11] before her weight started dropping once again.[7] She was readmitted to Collingham Gardens for six months and then to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London where she was placed on a psychiatric and eating disorders ward.[7]

Grahame refused to accept treatment willingly and has commented: “I was on a mission to starve myself to death...I was obsessed."[7] This culminated in several suicide bids, when at the age of 12, she stole a packet of paracetemol from the hospital's supplies and swallowed 22 pills. Shortly after, Grahame's weight dropped so low that she fell into a coma and at one stage doctors predicted that she was minutes from death.[7] Grahame was force-fed via a tube that was stitched inside her stomach, but when she regained consciousness she continuously tried to remove the feeding apparatus and her weight subsequently dropped to 2 stones 9lb (37lbs), which her doctor claimed was the worst case of anorexia he had come across in 32 years.[7]

Grahame was eventually admitted to Rhodes Farm, an eating disorders clinic in Mill Hill, North London, and after six months she began showing signs of improvement. She commented: "I woke up one morning and thought, ‘What are you doing to yourself?’."[7] At the age of 16 Grahame had increased her weight to 6st 4 lb (1.8 kg) and was released from the clinic, though she relapsed again aged 18 and spent time in an adult eating disorder ward.[7] While she was overcoming her eating disorder, she developed obsessive-compulsive disorder (in her case involving a chronic fear of germs), which she still battles with today.[12] Owing to her anorexia, her body never went through puberty properly. She revealed on Channel 4's Supersize vs. Superskinny Me that she had never had a period and never will, owing to her ovaries not having matured properly, and as a consequence, will never be able to have children.

Career

Before Grahame rose to fame on Big Brother, she had appeared as a supporting artist in the BBC soap opera EastEnders,[13] and played a footballer's wife in Sky One's Dream Team.[14] She was also featured in Sky One's Ibiza Uncovered-esque holiday show, Sex On The Beach, where a camera crew followed her around Kavos on the Greek island of Corfu, recording her late night boozy antics in the local bars and clubs. In 2003, she was a contestant on the ITV dating show Blind Date; however, the person she got matched with was not impressed with his pairing, commenting: "Everyone's got a right to be dozy, but Nikki abused it."[15][16] In addition, Grahame, who has an NVQ in beauty therapy, also took part in the 2004 Miss Hertfordshire pageant, where she came fourth.[15] Grahame had numerous jobs before she became publicly known, including working as a dancer, a promotions girl[17] and a glamour model.[14]

In August 2006, It was reported byThe News Of The World that Grahame had previously been employed as a high-class escort or 'vice girl'. Its alleged that one of her clients was the Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty. Despite being paid £500, she denies having sexual intercourse with him, claiming that as soon as she heard she was to have sex with him she quit immediately, and that he was too altered by drugs to perform anyway.[18]

Big Brother

File:Nikki g.jpg
Nikki Grahame entered the Big Brother house dressed as a Playboy Bunny.

In May 2006 Grahame became one of the original contestants on the UK's seventh series of the popular reality television show Big Brother, entering the house wearing a pink playboy bunny outfit.[19] While on the show she became known for her histrionics (such as temper tantrums) and becoming romantically linked to the eventual winner of Series 7, Pete Bennett.[20]

During her stay in the Big Brother house, tabloid newspapers revealed that Grahame had battled with the eating disorder anorexia for the majority of her adolescence, and had attempted suicide by taking an overdose of paracetamol several times.[8] The programme's decision to include a contestant with prior mental health issues was criticised in the media, with experts suggesting that she should not have been allowed to take part.[21] In addition, various behaviour exhibited by Grahame — such as a high susceptibility to cold; eating food with a teaspoon; looking for reassurance about her body shape and an obsessive need for bottled water — have been directly linked to her anorexia.[8] Endemol, the company behind Big Brother, were accused of endangering their contestant’s mental state in favour of viewing figures and Deanne Jade, founder of the National Centre Of Eating Disorders, branded them "scurrilous".[8]

Grahame was nominated for eviction four times during her initial stay in the Big Brother house and was eventually evicted on Day 58[22] with 37.2% of the public vote.[23] However, less than four weeks after her exit, she was voted back into the 'House Next Door' by 63% of the voting public, along with three other ex-housemates.[24] She was then chosen to return to the main house by the surviving contestants and despite the fact that she had already been evicted, she was reinstated as an eligible housemate and was once again given the opportunity to receive the £100,000 prize handed out to the winner;[25] a controversial move that prompted 2,700 viewers to complain to the premium rate phone watchdog, Icstis.[26]

An Icstis regulator commented that the majority of complaining viewers believed that they were misled by the makers of Big Brother, as they were under the impression that they had voted to evict the ex-housemate permanently.[26] In the wake of this, Icstis launched an inquiry which could have resulted in Channel 4 refunding an estimated £3 million to people who took part with phone or text votes.[26] Despite Icstis ruling that Big Brother breached its guidelines and misled phone voters, Channel 4 was not made to refund viewers and was instead fined and forced to pay almost £50,000 in administrative costs.[27]

In conjunction tabloid newspapers reported on an alleged betting scandal, after it was revealed that thousands of pounds were staked on Grahame to win even after she was initially evicted from the show. Several mystery big cash bets were reportedly placed on Grahame at 1,000-1 after her eviction, sparking fears that insiders knew she was going back into the house and decided to cash in.[28]

Grahame subsequently finished in fifth place, with 6.5% of the final vote.[29] The crowd response was less positive than it had been at her prior eviction, where she seemingly left to unanimous chanting and cheers.[30] Host, Davina McCall, attempted to interview her but Grahame was reluctant to speak, claiming that she was scared and shocked by the "boos" from the crowd.[29] Grahame's live interview was subsequently cut short and she was eventually led off the stage.[31]

Since the series' final, the Channel 4 chief, Kevin Lygo, has admitted that Big Brother executives feared Grahame would win — sparking further backlash from angry viewers. He added that the idea, which divided producers, was to spice up the “sometimes dull” final week.[32]

Media career

In between her two stays in the Big Brother House Grahame presented the "Celebrity Spotting" section on one episode of The Friday Night Project, which is normally presented by Debra Stephenson. Grahame has also co-presented alongside Iain Lee on several episodes of his show Celebrity Soup, which airs on the satellite channel E! Entertainment Television.[33]

During the time after her first eviction a Simple Life-esque reality TV series was announced in which Grahame would star. The programme followed her attempts to hold down an everyday job and was apparently inspired by her disastrous turn as a PA in a Big Brother task assigned to housemates.[4] The show, Princess Nikki, premiered on E4 on 6 September and ran for 6 weeks.

Grahame won a National Television Award for Most Popular TV Contender on 31 October 2006, beating former boyfriend Pete Bennett, Chantelle Houghton, Richard Fleeshman and Carol Thatcher. Grahame was the only nominee from this category who was not a reality television show winner. In addition, Grahame was voted the second Most Annoying Person Of 2006 in a BBC Three televised poll[34] and was the 12th most 'written about' person of 2006 in the UK, along with Pete Bennett — according to Channel 4's 2006 Fame Review; a televised poll which equates fame to newspaper column inches.[35]

In February 2007 Grahame began fronting a media campaign for the launch of Domino's Meateor Pizza, which included television advertising and online promotion.[36] The advert played heavily on Grahame's reputation for whinging, which is eventually curtailed by the delivery of the meteor pizza. It hurtles down from outer space and collides with Grahame, propelling her through the air and leaving her dumbstruck.[37]

Grahame makes personal appearances, which includes participation in various television shows such as Celebrity Scissorhands and 8 out of 10 Cats,[38] and appearances at student nights and clubs.[39] On 24 March 2007, Grahame appeared on a special "Goodies and Baddies" edition of the game show The Weakest Link. During round three, she was the strongest link of the team (answered the most questions correctly and earned the most money), but was eliminated in round five after then becoming the weakest link of the team. Grahame took part in the Soccer Six charity tournament at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in May 2007.[40]

After leaving the Big Brother house, Nikki became a favourite with the glossy celeb weekly's. OK Magazine January 2009 Nikki Grahame has appeared on the covers of K9 Magazine, Now Magazine on the 11th August, OK Magazine in June 2008, More magazine in March 2008 and November 2007. Nikki had a pictorial in Closer magazine in early 2009. She also featured in OK magazine as part of a pictorial with Chantelle Houghton and Grace Adams Short. In another OK feature, Nikki had a photo shoot with Pete Bennet. Nikki appeared on the front cover of Hot Stars magazine to promote her tv show "Princess Nikki". Nikki has also featured on the cover of Heat magazine twice. Once for her speaking about Duncan James and another in her joint interview with Pete Bennet. After Nikki and Pete parted ways, Nikki's story was printed in OK, Now, New and Star magazine and she also featured on the covers each time.

In June 2007, Grahame returned to the Big Brother franchise but this time as a reporter for its spin-off show, Big Brother's Little Brother.[41] Known as "The B-Team", Grahame and several other former housemates were sent to various venues to interview people about their opinions on Big Brother 8. Grahame also had a Big Brother column in the glossy magazine, OK!, where she discussed her thoughts on the series.[42] In September 2007 Grahame was given a regular column in OK!'s "Hot Stars" section, a free pull out magazine, where she writes her views on celebrities and recent events. [43]

In 2008, she appeared on two "Battle of the Sexes" editions of Trisha supporting the girls, along with Jeff Brazier for the boys. She featured in the "pre-show" for Big Brother 9, Big Brother:The Auditions, giving advice to auditionees standing in line. She also returned as a roving reporter for the 2008 series of Big Brother's Little Brother. On 8 January 2009, she briefly returned to the Big Brother house, during the sixth celebrity series, where three housemates - Coolio, Lucy Pinder and Tina Malone - had to be paparazzi for a task and had to photograph celebrities who were air-lifted over the garden.

In the autumn of 2008, Grahame announced that she was writing a book called "Dying To Be Thin" to help anorexia sufferers and is thinking of making a documentary about her experiences, because she wants "young girls to know the long-term effects of anorexia, what it does to your body, to your mind, your family".[44]

Nikki started 2009 by becoming one of the Big Brother websites bloggers. Nikki gave her opinions on all of the housemates as they arrived in the house. Nikki will also be one of a number of previous housemates who will enter the house in the week of Big Brothers 10th anniversary.

Personal life

File:Nikki Grahame Pete Bennett.jpg
Grahame with her former boyfriend, Pete Bennett at the Red Bull Air Race in Longleat (September 2006).

At the age of 18 Grahame was given breast implants on the NHS, because her years of anorexia had left her flat-chested.[7] In April 2007 Grahame revealed that she had undergone corrective plastic surgery on her breast implants in order to fix "ripples" left by the first operation.[45] As a result of her eating disorder, Grahame has brittle bone disease osteoporosis, as her bones did not form properly and have been left permanently weakened as a result. She takes calcium supplements and has a diet rich in dairy foods to prevent it getting worse.[46]

Grahame's first serious relationship was with Chris Jacques, from Southgate, North London, who she dated for 18 months.[9] While she was in Big Brother, Grahame reportedly confessed that she had once been involved with Jack Tweed, the lover of the Big Brother 3 finalist and Celebrity Big Brother 2007 contestant, Jade Goody. Their fling allegedly occurred before Goody and Tweed became a couple.[9] She has also been romantically linked to the model Calum Best and, according to her former agent, Skye Butler, she slept with him on and off for six months, rather than once as she claims.[47]

Grahame famously dated the winner of Big Brother 7, Pete Bennett. The duo's romance began in the last week of Big Brother, following Grahame's return to the show.[48] However in September 2006 she went public with the news that Bennett had made the decision to end their relationship, just over a month after it began.[49] Bennett told her that he found it tough having a relationship in the spotlight and just wanted to be friends. Grahame commented "I still want to be with him. Sadly he doesn't want to be with me. I will just have to accept that. I have to let go."[50]

Grahame has been romantically linked to the singer, Duncan James but, according to The People newspaper, she was dumped in December 2006 because of her infamous "strops" and because she "was way too emotionally unbalanced for him."[51] However in the 23 January 2007 issue of heat magazine, James stated that no such relationship had occurred.[52]

Grahame began dating Guy Mesigan, a part-time model and carpenter, at the end of 2006.[53] While the couple were holidaying in the Canary Islands in February 2007, Grahame suffered two broken bones due to a 42-inch (1,100 mm) plasma television falling on her foot while she was out clubbing.[54] She sought medical attention and ended up on crutches.[55] Grahame and Mesigan split in May 2007, and she has since branded him a "fucking bastard” and a "total limelight chaser."[56] Several weeks after their split, Grahame was romantically linked to Will Colin, a contestant from Channel 4 reality show Shipwrecked, with reports suggesting that "they were stuck to each other all night" at a London club.[57]

Grahame went on to date electrician Chris Neal, whom she met at a polo event in July 2007. Neal subsequently gave a "kiss and tell" interview with The News Of The World, claiming he was caught cheating on Grahame with her friend Chantelle Houghton.[58]

In February 2009 Grahame was injured in a car accident, she suffered cracked ribs and needed stitches in her head. Grahame was in the back seat of a car and was thrown forwards when the driver braked suddenly. Grahame wasn't wearing a seatbelt, her agent said "There was blood everywhere. It was a nasty crash".[59]

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Result
2006 National Television Awards Most Popular TV contender Winner

Bibliography

  • Dying To Be Thin - The True Story Of My Lifelong Battle Against Anorexia (2009)

References

  1. ^ a b England and Wales Birth Index, 1837-1983; district Brent, volume 11, page 1494, quarter April/May/June
  2. ^ "Nikki Grahame". myvillage.com. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  3. ^ Nikki Grahame Magazine Columns http://www.specialnikkigrahame.com/mags.htm
  4. ^ a b c "E4 show for Big Brother's Nikki". BBC. 2006-07-26. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  5. ^ "Nikki Grahame sent hopping from Big Brother 7 house". TheInternetforum. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  6. ^ "Dr Who scores TV awards hat-trick". BBC News. 2006-10-31. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Iggulden, Caroline (2006-07-17). "The official Nikki story". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  8. ^ a b c d Brook, Sally (2006-07-04). "Nikki minutes from death". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  9. ^ a b c d Hodgson, Grant (2006-06-25). "Jade's Jack swept she had a massive". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  10. ^ a b Hodgson, Grant (2006-05-28). "Nik's lost grandpa tunes in". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  11. ^ Walker, Alice (2006-06-11). "EAT OR DIE". The People. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  12. ^ Swan, Melanie (2006-07-16). "Big Brother Nikki Lashes Out". The People. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  13. ^ "Big Brother star was an extra". BBC. 2006-07-15. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  14. ^ a b "BiMedia:Nikki Grahame". Bicommunitynews.co.uk. 2006-05-21. Retrieved 2007-02-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Biogs: Nikki Grahame". Biogs. 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2007-02-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Which BB Star Did Blind Date?". Sky Showiz. 2006-10-11. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  17. ^ Nathan, Sarah (2006-07-20). "Pining Nikki sobs for Pete". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  18. ^ "Pete Doherty paid 500 pounds for sex with Big Brother star!". Sarf News. 2006-08-20. Retrieved 2007-02-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ White, Richard (2006-05-20). "BB babes are luvly bruvly". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  20. ^ "Profile: Big Brother winner Pete Bennett". BBC. 2006-08-16. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  21. ^ Hastings, Chris (2006-08-21). "Three Big Brother contestants should not have taken part". Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  22. ^ McLaughlin, Sharon. "Big Brother goes overboard". Headliners. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  23. ^ "Nikki given boot in Big Brother". BBC. 2006-07-14. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  24. ^ "Back Four More". Channel 4. 2006-08-16. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  25. ^ "Pete favourite to win Big Brother". BBC. 2006-08-12. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  26. ^ a b c "Watchdog checks Big Brother vote". BBC. 2006-08-11. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  27. ^ "Big Brother 'misled' phone voters". BBC. 2006-10-05. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  28. ^ "Big Brother's betting fix". Daily Mail. 2006-08-11. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  29. ^ a b Welsh, James (2006-08-18). "Nikki evicted, finishes fifth". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  30. ^ Saney, Daniel (2006-07-15). "Nikki's interview: "I'm so embarrassed"". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  31. ^ "Nikki Meets Davina...again". Channel 4. 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  32. ^ "C4 fears over Nikki Big Bro win". The Sun. 2006-08-25. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  33. ^ ""Celebrity Soup"". IMDB. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  34. ^ "Nikki Grahame Sightings and Appearances". NikkiGrahame.info. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  35. ^ Channel 4 (aired 31 December 2006). "2006 Fame Review" list.
  36. ^ "Domino's backs Meateor debut". Brand Republic. 2007-02-14. Retrieved 2007-02-24. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Donaghy, James (2007-03-31). "The hard sell". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  38. ^ "Big Brother's Nikki Bawls in Salon". Female First. 2006-11-14. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  39. ^ "Nikki gets a saucy student lap dance". Digital Spy. 2006-10-21. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  40. ^ "Wrexham stages celeb Soccer Six". BBC News. 2007-05-29. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  41. ^ "Bruv's crown jewels". The Daily Star. 2007-05-30. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  42. ^ "OK!". OK!. 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  43. ^ Grahame, Nikki 15-21 September 2007, OK! Hot Stars magazine. scan
  44. ^ "Big Brother's Nikki Grahame: 'For years I was a walking skeleton'". Daily Mail. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2008-10-26. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 15 (help)
  45. ^ West, Dave (2007-04-24). "Nikki Grahame fixes dodgy boob job". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-05-07.
  46. ^ Rachel Ingram (2008-08-17). "Nikki Grahame: One fall could paralyse me". NOW. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  47. ^ Nathan, Sara (2006-06-26). "Bisexual Nik's pal pull bid". The Sun. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  48. ^ "Profile: Big Brother winner Pete Bennett". BBC. 2006-08-18. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  49. ^ Ford, Louise (2006-09-17). "Nikki & Pete..It's All Gurn Wrong". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  50. ^ "Pete's Given Me The Boot". News of the World. 2006-09-17. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  51. ^ West, Dave (2006-12-07). "Duncan James dumps Nikki". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
  52. ^ Cave, Lucie (23 January 2007). "heat interview Duncan James". heat magazine, issue 408 p.82 scan
  53. ^ "Nikki Grahame's Guy". Anorak. 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2007-05-07.
  54. ^ West, Dave. "PRINCESS NIKKI FLOORED!". New Woman. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  55. ^ "That's for taking the piz, Nik". The Sun. 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  56. ^ "The OK! Party". anorak.co.uk. 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  57. ^ "WILL IT LAST, NIKKI?". The People. 2007-05-27. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
  58. ^ "'I bedded Chantelle Houghton and Nikki Grahame,' claims electrician". NOW. 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
  59. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/big_brother/article2240356.ece

See also

External links

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