Big Brother hosts Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal have led the tributes to former contestant Nikki Grahame after her death aged 38 following a long battle with anorexia.
Nikki, who rose to fame on the seventh series of Big Brother in 2006, passed away in the early hours of Friday morning – just one month after her friends started a GoFundMe page for anorexia treatment.
Taking to Twitter, original Big Brother host Davina McCall, 53, penned: ‘I am so desperately sad to hear about Nikki Graham x my thoughts are with her friends and family xx she really was the funniest , most bubbly sweetest girl.’
Rest in peace: Big Brother hosts Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal have led the tributes to former contestant Nikki Grahame following her death aged 38 following a long battle with anorexia
While Rylan Clark-Neal, 32, who presented Big Brother’s Bit On The Side shared an image of Nikki alongside the words: ‘Thinking of Susan and Nikki’s close friends and family. A Big Brother Icon x.’
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.
Tributes: Former BB hosts Davina (left) and Rylan shared heartfelt words about Big Brother icon Nikki following her tragic death
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)
‘Nikki not only touched the lives of millions of people, but also her friends and family who will miss her immensely.
‘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.’
Words: Taking to Twitter, Davina, 53, penned: ‘I am so desperately sad to hear about Nikki Graham x my thoughts are with her friends and family xx she really was the funniest , most bubbly sweetest girl’
Gone too soon: While Rylan, 32, who presented Big Brother’s Bit On The Side shared an image of Nikki alongside the words: ‘Thinking of Susan and Nikki’s close friends and family. A Big Brother Icon x’
In the wake of the bad news, a host of names from the world of showbiz took to social media to share their sadness of the death of Nikki.
Nikki’s fellow Big Brother 7 star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace shared her complete shock at the news, sharing a snap of Nikki with the words: ‘I can’t breath.’
She then added a collage of snaps of the pair and heartbreakingly wrote: ‘Come back Nikki’, alongside broken heart emojis.
While fellow housemate Glyn Wise, who came runner-up in their series, shared a photo of himself and Nikki as he declared he was ‘beyond upset’ at her passing.
Stunned: Nikki’s fellow Big Brother 7 star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace shared her complete shock at the news, sharing a snap of Nikki with the words: ‘I can’t breath’
Broken hearted: She then added a collage of snaps of the pair and heartbreakingly wrote: ‘Come back Nikki’, alongside broken heart emojis
Devastated: While fellow housemate Glyn Wise, who came runner-up in their series, shared a photo of himself and Nikki as he declared he was ‘beyond upset’ at her passing
So sad: Lizzie Cundy shared a snap of the two of them as she penned: ‘Broken hearted. Rest in peace my friend Nikki Grahame. We would party and laugh hard, Will miss you’
Reaching out: While Stacey Solomon said she was ‘broken hearted’ for Nikki’s friends and family as well as those suffering with an eating disorder
He wrote: ‘Beyond Upset! Devastating news about the passing of Nikki Graham. A true icon and the real winner of Big Brother 7! I will always remember your laughter, your smile, your tantrums and bluntness. But more than anything I’ll remember your zest for life. I love you always Nikki xxx.’
Lizzie Cundy shared a snap of the two of them as she penned: ‘Broken hearted. Rest in peace my friend Nikki Grahame. We would party and laugh hard, Will miss you.’
While Stacey Solomon said she was ‘broken hearted’ for Nikki’s friends and family as well as those suffering with an eating disorder.
Thoughts: X Factor’s Joe McElderry shared: ‘Really sad to hear the passing of @NikkiGrahame grateful to have spent many fun times together. my thoughts are with her family. Rest in Peace lovely girl’
Shock: Former Big Brother star Josie Gibson tweeted: ‘I can’t believe I’m writing this. We love you so much. My heart hurts today. You funny intelligent quirky beautiful soul RIP xxxx’
‘Who is she?!’ While Big Brother’s iconic narrator Marcus Bentley quoted one of Nikki’s most famous lines as he penned: ”Who is she’? The best housemate ever! Night, night Princess Nikki!’
Comments: Stars including Paddy McGuinness, Perez Hilton and India Willoughby shared heartfelt words over Nikki
X Factor’s Joe McElderry shared: ‘Really sad to hear the passing of @NikkiGrahame grateful to have spent many fun times together. my thoughts are with her family. Rest in Peace lovely girl.’
Former Big Brother star Josie Gibson tweeted: ‘I can’t believe I’m writing this. We love you so much. My heart hurts today. You funny intelligent quirky beautiful soul RIP xxxx.’
While Big Brother’s iconic narrator Marcus Bentley quoted one of Nikki’s most famous lines as he penned: ”Who is she’? The best housemate ever! Night, night Princess Nikki!’
Condolences: TV personalities including The Speakmans, Daniel Brocklebank and Malin Anderson have shared kind words about Nikki
Kind hearted: Fellow CBB contestants Jedward tweeting: ‘Rip Nikki Grahame as fellow Big brother contestants we’ve gone through the same experience and having met you on tv shows! our heart goes out to your family and friends.’
Paddy McGuinness shared: ‘Bloody hell, just read the sad news about Nikki Grahame. Definitely one of the stars from the glory years of reality tv. I met her a long time ago and she was a lovely girl. RIP young lady.’
And American blogger Perez Hilton declared his heart ‘aches’ over the distressing news.
India Willoughby commented that Nikki was to some, ‘the best Big Brother housemate of all time.’
With fellow CBB contestants Jedward tweeting: ‘Rip Nikki Grahame as fellow Big brother contestants we’ve gone through the same experience and having met you on tv shows! our heart goes out to your family and friends.’
Gutted: Katie Price took to Instagram to share her upset over Nikki’s death, while stating that she’d just heard a previously unopened voice message from the star
The way they were: She also shared a snap of herself and Nikki during a previous night out
While TV personalities including The Speakmans, Daniel Brocklebank and Malin Anderson have also shared kind words about Nikki.
Katie Price took to Instagram to share her upset over Nikki’s death, while stating that she’d just heard a previously unopened voice message from the star.
She wrote: ‘I’m just so shocked and so gutted to hear this news and really upset set to hear her voice message I never saw and just opened. Nikki you were fabulous and made me laugh so much RIP beautiful.’
She also shared a snap of herself and Nikki during a previous night out.
Emotional: Meanwhile, former Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten shared a video of herself in tears at Nikki’s death, as she remarked: ‘am so sorry to lose such a beautiful soul and I send so much love and support’
Respectful: Elsewhere, former Big Brother star Chanelle Hayes told her Instagram followers that she had deleted a pre-scheduled Instagram post after hearing the sad news about Nikki, feeling it would be ‘inappropriate’
‘Gutted’: The Apprentice star Luisa Zissman said she was ‘gutted’ to hear of her favourite Big Brother contestant’s death, and shared a snap of the two of them alongside Big Brother’s Rylan and ex EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood
Meanwhile, former Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten shared a video of herself in tears at Nikki’s death, as she remarked: ‘am so sorry to lose such a beautiful soul and I send so much love and support.’
The actress has been open about her own 13 year battle with anorexia and is the patron of eating disorder charity SEED, which was set up by her own parents following her struggles.
In the emotional video, she also urged anyone who is going through a similar experience to please speak out, adding that ‘this is not something you have to suffer with in silence’.
Captioning her post, she penned: ‘I’ve just heard the news about Nikki Grahame. No numbers will ever match her loss. I have so much to say but too heartbroken to go there. I love you. My heart goes out to her family & close friends. Please if you’re struggling we at @SeedSupportUK are here & will fight for you.’
Elsewhere, former Big Brother star Chanelle Hayes told her Instagram followers that she had deleted a pre-scheduled Instagram post after hearing the sad news about Nikki, feeling it would be ‘inappropriate’.
Inconsolable: Also paying tribute was Nikki’s best friend and fellow Big Brother 7 contestant Imogen Thomas, who shared her devastation at the loss of her pal
BFFs: Alongside a montage of photos of them over the years, Imogen penned: ‘‘I have no words. I miss talking to you everyday. I miss your funny personality. I miss you impressions. I miss your tantrums. I MISS YOU. I’m utterly broken’
Memories: ‘You were unbelievably strong. I take comfort in all those memories we made, those epic holidays, those crazy all dayers, just sitting at home listening to Old Skool music. I will cherish them forever’
She also shared her own tribute, noting the news was ‘utterly horrid’, while sending her condolences to her loved ones.
The Apprentice star Luisa Zissman said she was ‘gutted’ to hear of her favourite Big Brother contestant’s death, and shared a snap of the two of them alongside Big Brother’s Rylan and ex EastEnders actor Ricky Norwood.
Also paying tribute was Nikki’s best friend and fellow Big Brother 7 contestant Imogen Thomas, who shared her devastation at the loss of her pal.
Grief: BB7 star Imogen shared a heartfelt message about the loss of her ‘unbelievably strong’ friend
So sorry: Imogen also took to her Instagram stories where she revealed that she and Nikki’s fellow loved ones tried ‘everything’ they could to help her beat that ‘soul destroying illness’
Alongside a montage of photos of them over the years, Imogen penned: ‘‘I have no words. I miss talking to you everyday. I miss your funny personality. I miss you impressions. I miss your tantrums. I MISS YOU. I’m utterly broken.
‘My best friend…You were special and so beautiful, you were kind and funny. It went to far and I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. We all tried so hard. Now your gone too early. You had so much more to give.
‘You were unbelievably strong. I take comfort in all those memories we made, those epic holidays, those crazy all dayers, just sitting at home listening to Old Skool music. I will cherish them forever.’
She concluded: ‘My girls and I will love you and remember you always until we meet again. I’m sorry my angel.’
Imogen also took to her Instagram stories where she revealed that she and Nikki’s fellow loved ones tried ‘everything’ they could to help her beat that ‘soul destroying illness’.
She urged people to hold their loved ones tight and revealed she was taking time off social media while she grieved.
Hope: Nikki’s two friends set up a GoFundMe in March to raise money for her to have specialist treatment as they said it’s the ‘only option left’ and Nikki was in a ‘bad way’ (pictured in 2017)
A statement from Nikki’s representative shared on Saturday 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 a fundraised to try and gather funds for her to receive specialist treatment, managing to reach a total of £65,539.
The original page read: ‘She has been battling for most of her life and as you can see, Nikki is now in a very bad way so we need to do something quickly.
Plea: Rylan Clark-Neal, who won Celebrity Big Brother 11, said on Twitter at the time: ‘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)
Wow: Her pals, Carly Cunningham and Leon Dee, exceeded their £50,000 goal on their GoFundMe page in March, which was set up to cover the costs of Nikki’s therapy
‘Over the past years Nikkis family and friends have tried so desperately to get Nikki all the help possible through the NHS but unfortunately the treatments have failed and we have exhausted every avenue possible, and now Nik is unfortunately in a very bad way, this is now our last hope.
‘This is why we feel that getting her treatment in a specialist clinic is the only option left for her.
Nikki’s friend, TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal, also appealed to his followers to help with donations.
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.
‘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)
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.’
The TV star began suffering from anorexia aged eight, and has never had a period or produced eggs which would allow her to conceive due to her condition.
After first being admitted to an eating disorder unit at the age of eight, she was force-fed through a tube, and has caused long-term damage to her oesophagus from years of purging.
For help and support with eating disorders contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit www.seedeatingdisorders.org.uk