Big Brother’s Nikki Grahame dies aged 38 one month after friends started a GoFundMe page for anorexia treatment when her eating disorder returned
- Nikki Grahame rose to fame on Big Brother and struggled with anorexia for years
- Reality TV star had recently checked into a private hospital for eating disorder
- Her sad passing was confirmed online by her friend Leon Dee on GoFundMe
Big Brother Nikki Grahame has died at the age 38 – just one month after her friends started a GoFundMe page for anorexia treatment.
Nikki rose to fame after appearing on the 2006 series of Big Brother and had struggled with anorexia since she was a child.
She had recently checked into a private hospital to treat her eating disorder and her friends had started a crowdfunding page to help with her treatment.
Tragic: Big Brother Nikki Grahame has died at the age 38 – just one month after her friends started a GoFundMe page for anorexia treatment (pictured in 2019)
Her sad death was confirmed online by her friend Leon Dee on Saturday.
A statement on the GoFundMe page read: ‘It is with great sadness, we have to let you know that our dear friend Nikki passed away in the early hours of Friday 9th April.
‘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.
History: The Big Brother icon, 38, appeared on the seventh series of the hit reality show in 2006 and she developed an eating disorder as a child (pictured with Davina McCall in 2010)
‘We would like to request privacy at this difficult time, while Nikki’s friends and family process the sad news. Full details will be released as and when we know them.
‘All donations have been greatly appreciated and it was heartwarming for everyone including Nikki to see how much she was loved.’
Leon added that all the funds raised in the GoFundMe will be given to a charity as a donation in Nikki’s memory.
He penned: ‘Funds will be held safely in this GoFundMe until we have established an organisation supporting those suffering from anorexia to which we will make a donation in Nikki’s memory.
‘We will post updates for you with more details as soon as we have them. We are working with GoFundMe at this time. If you want to request a refund, you can write into GoFundMe’s team here.
‘Rest In Peace, Nikki. We love you & not a day will go by without missing your smile.’
History: The Big Brother icon, 38, appeared on the seventh series of the hit reality show in 2006 and she developed an eating disorder as a child (pictured with co-star Imogen Thomas)
‘Not a day will go by without missing your smile’: Nikki’s friend Leon Dee paid tribute to his late friend and revealed money raised on GoFundMe will be given to a charity in Nikki’s memory
While a statement from her representative said: ‘It is with immeasurable sadness that Nikki Grahame passed away in the early hours of Friday 9th April 2021. Please respect the privacy of Nikki’s friends and family at this tragic and difficult time.’
Nikki appeared on the seventh series of Big Brother UK in 2006, in which she finished in fifth place, and had developed an eating disorder as a child.
Just last month Nikki’s pals had launched the account to try and raise funds for her to receive specialist treatment, managing to reach a total of £65,539.
Her friend, TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal, also appealed to his followers to help with donations, after the GoFundMe set up in March revealed that anorexia had left Nikki in a very ‘bad way’.
Rylan, who won Celebrity Big Brother 11, said on Twitter: ‘This is v hard to read but sharing with permission. If some of the family could help in any way I know it would be greatly appreciated. Sending love x.’ (sic)
And just two weeks ago Nikki’s mother claimed her daughter’s 30-year battle with anorexia nervosa worsened because of the coronavirus pandemic.
During an interview on This Morning, Susan Grahame, 66, revealed the Big Brother icon struggled with the isolation periods and gym closures brought by the nationwide lockdowns, admitting: ‘COVID-19 really put the cap on it.’
On how her daughter took a turn for the worse amid the global crisis, Susan told hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby: ‘I think last year really put the cap on it with Covid.
‘It sounds crazy but even stuff like gyms closing, which is quite important to Nikki as she needs to know she can exercise.
‘The isolation, she couldn’t see anyone. I offered to stay with her but she said ”I need to stay in my own home”. It’s been really hard for her, really hard.
‘It’s been really, really hard’: Nikki’s mother recently claimed her daughter’s 30-year battle with anorexia nervosa worsened because of the coronavirus pandemic (pictured together)
‘She had terminal loneliness… she was cut off, spending too much time on her own, and nothing to think about other than food.’
Nikki’s parent went on to detail the former model’s difficult childhood as she explained: ‘We had a lot of stuff going on, my dad got very sick, she was worried for me.
‘My marriage broke up, my husband at the time had a lot of trouble at work, it wasn’t a happy place.
WHAT IS ANOREXIA?
Anorexia is a serious mental illness where a person restricts their food intake, which often causes them to be severely underweight.
Many also exercise excessively.
Some sufferers may experience periods of bingeing, followed by purging.
Sufferers often have a distorted view of themselves and think they are larger than they really are.
Untreated, patients can suffer loss of muscle and bone strength, as well as depression, low libido and menstruation ceasing in women.
In severe cases, patients can experience heart problems and organ damage.
Behavioural signs of anorexia include people saying they have already eaten or will do later, as well as counting calories, missing meals, hiding food and eating slowly.
As well as weight loss, sufferers may experience insomnia, constipation, bloating, feeling cold, hair loss, and swelling of the hands, face and feet.
Treatment focuses on therapy and self-help groups to encourage healthy eating and coping mechanisms.
Source: Beat Eating Disorders
‘One thing sticks in my mind, we went to a restaurant for Mother’s Day lunch, and Nikki she stood beside me. She didn’t want to sit let alone eat, then of course she started to lose weight, that’s the one time that sticks in my mind.’
Susan also insisted the Northwood native was getting back on track before the pandemic, sharing: ‘It all came to a grinding halt.
‘With Nikki, she would get through the year knowing she had friends abroad and would visit them, and she spent a lot of time last year cancelling all her holidays.’
The media personality’s friends, Carly Cunningham and Leon Dee, exceeded their £50,000 goal on their GoFundMe page earlier this month, which was set up to cover the costs of her therapy.
Admitting she was initially apprehensive about the fundraiser, Susan said: ‘It was run by me a day or two before by Nikki’s friends. I was apprehensive.
‘First of all we were desperate, we haven’t had much help with the NHS, we had one place, she had been failed there five or six times.
‘I was worried that appeal, Nikki would come in for attack, with saying she was attention seeking, people could be nasty and she doesn’t need that.
‘I spoke to her and she said, ”please stress how overwhelmed I am by people’s kindness, tell everyone I’m going to try my level best to beat this, I’m going to get my life back”.
‘It’s so frightening for an anorexic because if they start to eat normally, it’s gonna go out of their control. She felt it was the one thing that she could keep control over with everything going around her.
‘When she started to get sick, she would be like, ”don’t be upset, look how well I’m doing”. It was like she was trying to divert the attention.
‘[When she was in hospital] I cuddled her. I said, ”come on Nikki, I promise you there is a life out there.”’
For help and support with eating disorders contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit www.seedeatingdisorders.org.uk
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