Nikki Grahame

Biography

Nicola Rachele-Beth Grahame (28 April 1982 – 9 April 2021) was an English television personality and author. She was a contestant on the seventh series of the reality show Big Brother in 2006, which she finished in fifth place. Following the show, she starred in her own reality series Princess Nikki, and won a National Television Award for Most Popular TV Contender. In 2010, Grahame was runner-up in Ultimate Big Brother, and in 2015, she appeared as a guest housemate on the sixteenth series of Big Brother. In 2016, she competed in the fourth season of Big Brother Canada, finishing in sixth place. Grahame suffered from anorexia nervosa throughout her life. She released the books Dying to Be Thin (2009) and Fragile (2012), both of which are based on her experiences with the illness. Grahame died from complications of the eating disorder on 9 April 2021, aged 38.

== Early life == Nicola Rachel-Beth Grahame was born on 28 April 1982 in Northwood, London, England. She described her early childhood as the "happiest ever" but when she was eight, her parents divorced and her grandfather, to whom she was very close, died from cancer. Grahame, who had been described as a "daddy's girl", was upset by her parents' divorce, after which she was raised by her mother Susan. Grahame attended Northwood School, London.

== Career ==

=== 2003–2005: Early media appearances === Before Grahame appeared on Big Brother, she appeared as an extra in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders and played a footballer's wife in Sky One's Dream Team. In 2003, she was a contestant on the ITV dating show Blind Date. Grahame, who had earned an NVQ in beauty therapy, took part in the 2004 Miss Hertfordshire pageant, where she came fourth.

=== 2006: Big Brother 7 === In May 2006, Grahame registered as a contestant on the seventh series of the Channel 4 reality television series Big Brother, in which she became known for her behaviour such as temper tantrums, Diary Room theatrics, and becoming romantically linked to Pete Bennett, the winner of the series. During her Big Brother tenure, tabloid newspapers reported Grahame had suffered from anorexia nervosa for most of her adolescence and several times had attempted suicide by taking an overdose of paracetamol. Media criticised the programme's decision to include a contestant with prior mental health issues; experts said she should not have been allowed to take part. However, Grahame herself admitted in her autobiography that she intentionally withheld her diagnoses and psychiatric history from the Big Brother team, and only admitted the truth when she was already in the House and struggling. During her first stay in the Big Brother house, Grahame was nominated for eviction four times and was eventually evicted on Day 58 after gaining 37.2% of the public vote. Less than four weeks after her exit, she and three other ex-housemates were voted into the "House Next Door" by 63% of the voting public. The remaining contestants chose Grahame to return to the main house, although she had already been evicted. Grahame was reinstated as an eligible housemate and was again given the opportunity to receive the show's £100,000 prize; prompting 2,700 viewers to complain to the premium-rate telephone watchdog ICSTIS. After she was nominated for eviction by Susie Verrico, who had just moved into the house, Grahame furiously shouted in the Diary Room, "Who is she?! Who is she?! Who is she?! Where did you find her?". The outburst became an iconic moment in the show's history. Grahame finished the show in fifth place with 6.5% of the final vote. The crowd response was less positive than it had been at her prior eviction, when she departed to unanimous chanting and cheers. Host Davina McCall attempted to interview Grahame but she was reluctant to speak, saying she was scared and shocked by the booing from the crowd. Grahame's live interview was cut short and she was led off the stage.

=== 2007–2009: After Big Brother 7 === After leaving the Big Brother House, Grahame presented the "Celebrity Spotting" section on one episode of The Friday Night Project that was normally presented by Debra Stephenson. Grahame has also co-presented several episodes of Celebrity Soup, alongside Iain Lee on the satellite channel E! Entertainment Television. After her first eviction, a reality television series similar to Simple Life in which Grahame would star was announced. The programme followed her attempts to hold an everyday job and was inspired by her unsuccessful stint as a personal assistant in a Big Brother task. Princess Nikki premiered on E4 on 6 September and ran for six weeks. Grahame made personal appearances, which included participation in various television shows such as Celebrity Scissorhands and 8 out of 10 Cats, and appearances at student nights and clubs. 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. In June 2007, Grahame returned to the Big Brother franchise as a reporter for the spin-off show Big Brother's Little Brother. Known as "The B-Team", Grahame and several other former housemates were sent to interview people about their opinions of Big Brother 8. She also wrote a Big Brother column in the magazine OK!. In September 2007, Grahame was given a regular column in OK!'s "Hot Stars" section.

=== 2010: Ultimate Big Brother === On 24 August 2010, Grahame competed in Ultimate Big Brother, in which she was the only housemate to represent Big Brother 7. Grahame was nominated for a double eviction in the second week of the show's run alongside five of her housemates. Grahame survived the public vote after polling fewer votes than at least two of the other nominees. On 10 September, Grahame became the show's runner-up, receiving a positive reaction from the audience after losing to Big Brother 2 winner Brian Dowling in the final vote. Grahame finished the show three places higher than her placing in Big Brother 7. During Grahame's time in Ultimate Big Brother, she appeared to be more comfortable discussing her anorexia; in particular, she conversed with Vanessa Feltz, who has also had problems with her weight.

=== 2015–2021: Big Brother Canada 4 and final projects === In 2015, Grahame participated in the sixteenth series of Big Brother as a "time warp housemate". In September 2015, she collaborated with JYY London to design a range of fashion garments for petite women. In an interview with Reveal magazine, Grahame stated: