Alison Hammond said Big Brother "doesn't really pay" but covers your expenses instead.
While the 47-year-old would no doubt be a fan favourite to win a current series, Alison was evicted on the second week of the reality show back in 2002. She joined the competition as one of the original cast members 20 years ago, finding her spot in the show's third series.
The This Morning host dabbled in acting and stage shows before her first big television appearance but it was Big Brother that essentially launched the presenter's career.
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Looking back on her roots in a recent episode of the podcast Table Manners, she said she was motivated to join the show after friends claimed she was a shoo-in to win, and to clear a debt hanging over her head.
Alison said: "At the time I had a debt of £3,000 so, at the time, I was absolutely traumatised. Every time I got paid I just couldn't make that debt go down.
"So I thought, 'that would be a good idea to go on the show and win £70,000' and everyone said, 'well why don't you apply?' So I went off to the internet cafe and I got an audition."
Alison added she was also offered a spot on the dating show Blind Date at the time but chose "money over love". Table Manners host Jessie Ware clarified that Alison didn't win but quizzed her on whether or not she still got paid.
Alison said: "They don't really pay you. What they do is give you expenses so you get £30 a day to cover your expenses. That's all we got."
She went on to reveal she went into the show assuming she would win after her friends convinced her that would be the case. After her eviction, Alison said she was "devastated."
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