Nikki Grahame’s mum Sue has detailed the heartbreaking ways her late daughter hid her anorexia battle, describing her as an “expert” at masking the devastating illness.
The Big Brother star, who rose to fame on the reality show in 2006, died last April at the age of 38 after a long battle with the eating order.
Nikki was found unconscious at her home after she had been discharged from Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester less than a day earlier, with mum Sue “pleading to go home with her”.
Speaking on Loose Women ahead of a new Channel 4 documentary on Nikki’s life, her mum Sue recalled losing count of the number of facilities her daughter entered after she developed the eating disorder aged eight.
Sue sat in the ITV studio alongside panellists Jane Moore, Frankie Bridge, Nadia Sawalha and Sunetra Sarker and spoke of how difficult it was to get medical recognition of Nikki’s illness at such a young age.
Panellist Frankie asked: “Do you think the outcome had been different if it was more commonly known for someone of her age?”
Sue said for many girls it may have been, but said that after much soul-searching she feels that “in some ways this was Nikki’s path”.
She explained: “The minute I took her to the doctor, he was saying it’s faddy eating. That was where the true battle began, was trying to get people to see what was going on.”
She continued: “I think Nikki was an expert. This is what I discovered from day one.
“She knew all about this illness: how to wear baggy clothes, how to put food in socks, in the pockets and go out for a walk to get shot of her meals.
“To this day, I think it must have been in her, because we didn’t have phones. It wasn’t something she could Google.”
Sunetra noted that Nikki “mastered the art” of having the eating disorder and keeping it from others.
Sue continued: “When Nikki was good, she was great, but she was always a little bit troubled, always very aware of what she ate and this horrible illness is so controlling.”
Host Jane noted that a doctor at Great Ormond Street Hospital told Sue Nikki’s case of anorexia was the worst he had ever seen.
A year on from her tragic death, Channel 4 will air a new documentary entitled Nikki Grahame: Who Is She?
Taking its name from her most iconic quote in the Big Brother house, the programme will look back on Nikki’s life and career as she became one of the best-loved reality stars in the UK.
After developing an eating disorder at the age of just eight, her mum said being on Big Brother was the highlight of her life as it meant she finally felt accepted.
Nikki Grahame: Who Is She? will air on Thursday April 7 at 9pm on Channel 4
*For help and support on eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 801 0677.
