I've always had a soft spot for the GC. I've been writing about her since 2011 - when The Only Way Is Essex was a brand spanking new reality series and us showbiz journos would have to dissect episodes on a weekly basis. Of course, Gemma Collins has provided some unforgettable TV gold moments and also had a very public on-off relationship with her TOWIE co-star James 'Arg' Argent.
Gemma's most memorable scenes on the small screen haven't just occurred in the clubs and bars of Essex. There's far too many to mention, but the I'm A Celeb helicopter scene and her Celebrity Big Brother diary room rants seem to stand out the most.
However, Gemma's latest TV appearance is a far cry from her whingeing about her hair or claiming she's seen a ghost - it's something much more serious, and shows a completely different side to the larger than life character.
Gemma Collins: Self-Harm and Me is an intimate and personal film where she opens up for the first time about her history of self-harm, which she struggled with for two decades. The hour-long Channel 4 documentary not only shows Gemma having one-to-ones with her mother Joan and her fiancé Rami Hawash, but she also attends a support group in Essex and has several conversations with her therapist, Mandy Saligari.
Those who don't follow Gemma on social media - or have only ever seen her on TOWIE - will certainly be surprised at the woman they now see on their screens. Gemma is certainly under no illusion that she's "like Marmite" but I certainly believe that what you see is what you get with the self-described "diva".
Not only is she brutally honest about her experience of self-harm, she is keen to stress that she never wanted to take her own life and seems genuinely unsure about why she cut herself in the first place. One thing Gemma is certain of though, is that she does not blame her parents or her upbringing for any of it. The 41-year-old star is adamant about this and it's heartbreaking to witness during her sessions with Mandy.
"At the end of the day you can't hold it against your parents," she says. "Nobody's perfect and I don't have any grievances with my parents, I love them more than ever. They brought me into this world and they only did their best."
Her statement no doubt hit a nerve with many viewers watching at home, and certainly reminded me of my own therapy sessions and exploring moments in my childhood that affected me later on in life. It's not always easy to have those conversations, but as Gemma proves, it can take such a weight off your shoulders and really help you to move forward.
Gemma herself admits that the hour-long documentary is not a "celebrity sob story" and I really don't think it comes across that way. Gemma is genuinely keen to try and understand why she used to self-harm as a way of dealing with her emotions as a teenager, and the film ends on a really positive note and sees Gemma planning her future, which includes Rami and having a baby.
Whether you like or loathe Gemma, there's no denying this side of her is honest, raw, and refreshing and proves she's just like the rest of us, diva and all.
For support on dealing with self-harm see mind.org.uk/selfharm or call Mind's confidential Infoline on 0300 123 3393.
For further help or advice, please visit: https://www.channel4.com/4viewers/help-support
Gemma Collins: Self-Harm and Me is available to watch on All 4.
