Big Brother star Nikki Grahame's mum appeared on Loose Women this morning to remember her daughter ahead of a documentary showcasing her life and battle with anorexia.
Nikki was best known for her louder than life behaviour, famous one-liners and wild behaviour both on and off the screen. A new documentary, Nikki Grahame: Who Is She?, airs tonight on Channel 4 at 7pm, shining a light on her life both as a reality star but also how she died.
Nikki's battle with anorexia began when she was just eight-years-old, and she would go on to struggle with the condition for the majority of her life. Her mum Sue joined the Loose Women panelists to share anecdotes of her daughter ahead of tonight's documentary, telling them when she first noticed Nikki was struggling.
READ MORE: Nikki Grahame's tragic 30-year anorexia battle which ultimately took her life
She said: "I noticed when Nikki was about seven and a half. First of all, it was the expression on her face, she just became terribly sad and she just began to get smaller. That's where the battle began." Loose Women co-host Frankie Bridge asked whether or not Sue was able to get a medical diagnosis for her daughter. Sue continued: "Well unfortunately she was a victim of her time. I knew what was going on but 38 years ago it was unheard of."
Frankie asked if the issue had been more commonly known about, did Sue think things may have been different for her daughter. Sue added: "I think for a lot of girls it may be but I've done lots of thinking about this and I somehow feel in some ways this was Nikki's path."
Panelist Nadia Sawalha noted how "extraordinary" Nikki was and how she never spoke of her condition, instead remaining positive and happy. She added: "But that still shows so much about what people don't know about anorexia." Sue mentioned she "lost" her daughter at the age of eight and only gained her back at 18. This was due to Nikki having to be placed in multiple facilities to help with her anorexia.
Sue said Nikki was never a victim and was smart in concealing her condition from others, being able to hide in baggy clothes and putting food in her socks. She said: "She knew from a very young age what to do and to this day I think it must have been in her. She was an expert. When Nikki was good she was great but she was always a little bit troubled."
Viewers of Loose Women praised Sue's vulnerability and transparency on the issue, calling her "strong" and that the interview was one of the most heartfelt moments the show has had. @MitchellWebb85 said: "What a lovely funny lady Nikki was and her mum is lovely too! She sounds very much like Nikki. My heart goes out to Sue what a brave lady #LooseWomen". @TracyGreaves24 added: "Nikki Grahame’s mum is lovely. One of the realest heartfelt interviews I’ve seen on this show #LooseWomen".
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