Entertainment
When did Nikki Grahame and Pete Bennett date and did he win Big Brother?
On Friday April 9, former Big Brother star Nikki Grahame died aged 38 following a battle with anorexia.
Tributes have come pouring in for the beloved TV personality, with stars including Davina McCall, Rylan Clark-Neal and fellow Big Brother contestants sharing heartfelt messages in her memory.
Nikki’s ex-boyfriend, Pete Bennett, paid homage to her in a heartbreaking video, referring to a fundraiser that was set up by her friends to help support her struggle with the eating disorder.
‘I thought to myself, yeah, we can save her. But it’s OK. she’s in a good place. She’s not suffering anymore,’ Pete said, before raising a glass to her and stating: ‘We really love you Nikki.’
Pete had shared a picture of himself hugging Nikki in March, writing in the caption: ‘Visiting my Nikki and still cuddling to this day.’
When did Nikki Grahame and Pete Bennett date?
Nikki and Pete both took part in the seventh series of Big Brother in 2006.
Several of Nikki’s moments on Big Brother remain some of the most iconic ever shown on reality television, from her exclamations of ‘Who is she?!’ in the Diary Room to her unforgettable eviction.
During their time in the competition, Nikki and Pete became romantically involved, with the pair often seen cuddling and comforting each other.
While their relationship only lasted for around a month, the pair remained friends in the years that followed.
In 2016, they were reunited on Loose Women to mark 10 years since they met on Big Brother.
‘I will always be fond of Pete,’ Nikki said, while Pete joked: ‘We used to see each other. Then she got all famous. Where’s my phone call?’
In June 2020, Nikki spoke out about their past relationship, saying: ‘I hated it when I realised I was falling in love with Pete Bennett’.
‘It was never meant to be. But I loved him at the time. Truly, it was special,’ she said.
When the fundraiser was set up by Nikki’s friends to help her receive treatment for anorexia, Pete showed his support by sharing the link to it in his Instagram bio.
‘Remember the fundraiser to help get her into a specialist anorexia clinic is in my bio!’ he wrote on Twitter and Instagram.
Did Pete Bennett win Big Brother?
Pete won series seven of Big Brother in 2006.
Later that year, he was nominated for ‘Most Popular TV Contender’ at the National Television Awards, with Nikki being named the winner of the accolade.
In June 2020, the 39-year-old opened up about how he spent his £100,000 prize money, stating: ‘I was 24, I was a raver, it just all went on bailiffs, the tax man, drugs. It was a crazy whirlwind.’
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