Nikki Grahame: Big Brother star’s life ‘celebrated’ in Channel 4 documentary - when’s it on and what’s it about?

The reality star’s untimely death came months after she told how isolating during the pandemic had negatively impacted her battle with anorexia
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Channel 4 is to celebrate the life of reality star Nikki Grahame, with a documentary about her life and the struggles she faced “behind the bright and funny media persona”.

The broadcaster described Grahame as “a complex woman who bravely battled anorexia for over 30 years,” the late star passed away earlier this year.

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In the months before her death, she had spoken about her struggle to overcome her illness and how it had intensified due to Covid lockdown restrictions.

‘So much more than a reality TV contestant’

When a second lockdown was announced in November in England, Grahame posted on Instagram that she “seriously can’t deal” with the impact on her life.

During an interview on This Morning in March, her 66-year-old mother revealed that Grahame was struggling with the isolation periods and gym closures brought by the nationwide lockdowns.

She said: ‘COVID-19 really put the cap on it,” adding she was apprehensive about a public appeal to fund Nikki’s treatment.

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The documentary will feature input from her mum, Sue, as well as other family members and friends.

As the documentary was announced on 16 August, Sue said: “Nikki was so much more than a reality TV contestant and I am looking forward to celebrating her short life in this documentary.”

She added it will “be tough, but Nikki was one special girl – kind and smart with the biggest heart”.

Executive producer Ollie Durrant added that he “hopes this film is a fitting tribute to her legacy.”

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“We are honoured to be making this important film with Nikki’s family and friends.

“She was an amazingly kind, caring person who despite her own struggles, worked tirelessly to raise awareness of anorexia and the exponential rise of mental health issues in society today,” he added.

‘Who is she?’

Grahame was best known for her appearance on Big Brother and subsequently, Celebrity Big Brother. Her dramatic personality and entertaining diary room rants, including her famous “who is she?” spout, made her a firm favourite among contestants.

However, below the exterior of hilarity, the Big Brother sweetheart was also continuing to battle against her eating disorder and raise awareness of the impact of her illness.

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Before Big Brother, Grahame, then an aspiring actress, appeared as an extra in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and played a footballer’s wife in Sky One’s Dream Team.

She also appeared as a contestant on ITV dating show Blind Date and competed in the 2004 Miss Hertfordshire pageant.

No date has yet been announced for when the documentary will air, this article will be updated in due course.

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