By Big Brother star Nikki Grahame dies aged 38 after battle with anorexia
Nikki Grahame, 38, who appeared on Series 7 of Big Brother, has sadly passed away after a battle with the eating disorder anorexia, it was announced last night.
The TV personality had checked into a private hospital last month to combat her illness.
In a statement, Grahame’s manager confirmed “with immeasurable sadness” that she had passed away in the early hours of Friday morning.
“Please respect the privacy of Nikki’s friends and family at this tragic and difficult time,” he added.
Grahame, originally from north-west London, was a contestant in the 2006 series of Big Brother.
Becoming known for her tantrums, she was hugely popular with viewers, being voted back into the house four weeks after she was first evicted. She finished in fifth place.
After her appearance on the show, she won a National Television Award for most popular TV contender.
Nikki Grahame returned to the Big Brother House in 2010 to take part in Ultimate Big Brother, the final series of the show which was broadcast on Channel 4.
At this point, she had built her career up as a popular and well-liked TV personality, starring in her own reality TV series, Princess Nikki.
She also guest-starred on many television programmes over the years, including Pointless, The Weakest Link and Friday Night Project.
Before she appeared on Big Brother, Grahame was an aspiring actress. She appeared as an extra in Eastenders and played a footballer’s wife in Dream Team, which was broadcast on Sky One.
She also returned for 2015’s “Time Warp” twist in that year’s Big Brother series, and made a cameo in the final series in 2018.
Grahame’s anorexia was well documented over the years, and she released a book about her eating disorder in 2009.
Last month, a fundraising page was set up by her friends, asking fans to donate money towards her recovery. It raised more than £65,000.
The appeal said that Grahame was in “a very bad way” and needed specialist treatment in a rehabilitation centre.
Yesterday, the page was updated to announce the tragic news of Grahame’s death.
It read: “It breaks our hearts to know that someone who is so precious was taken from us at such a young age.
“Nikki not only touched the lives of millions of people, but also her friends and family who will miss her immensely.”
Nikki Grahame was a much loved housemate and a huge part of the Big Brother family. We are shocked and saddened by this awful news and our thoughts are with her family. pic.twitter.com/31wojcWI6F
— Big Brother UK (@bbuk) April 10, 2021
I am so desperately sad to hear about Nikki Graham x my thoughts are with her friends and family xx she really was the funniest , most bubbly sweetest girl x❤️❤️❤️💔
— Davina McCall (@ThisisDavina) April 10, 2021
Our thoughts and condolences go out to Nikki’s family and friends at this sad time.
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