‘She was too much for me to handle’: Nikki Grahame’s BB ex Pete Bennett details the ‘pressure’ on their romance and how they stayed friends… following her tragic death aged 38
Pete Bennett has describe how he struggled to maintain his relationship with late ex-girlfriend Nikki Grahame following their Big Brother romance.
Speaking to Heat Magazine following her death at 38 earlier this month, the musician, 39, described how the couple felt ‘under pressure’ when they left the Big Brother house in 2006 and came under public scrutiny.
Nikki’s body was discovered on April 10 in her London home, a day after she was discharged from Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester after a three week stay, with her nearest and dearest insisting she was released ‘too early’.
Heartache: Pete Bennett has describe how he struggled to maintain his relationship with late ex-girlfriend Nikki Grahame following their Big Brother romance (the couple pictured in 2006)
Since her death, Pete and many others have been paying tribute the the reality TV legend, with her ex-boyfriend now detailing the demise of their relationship and how they then moved on to becoming close friends.
Big Brother 7 winner Pete and Northwood native Nikki fell for each other in the house and enjoyed a brief romance after leaving the show.
On their split and Nikki as a girlfriend, he has now said: ‘In the end it was really hard to maintain a relationship out of the house…
‘Everyone wanted a piece of us and we were doing big interviews together as a couple but people were watching our every move and it so much pressure – I think she was too much for me to handle without Big Brother telling her off!
Troubled: Speaking to Heat Magazine following her death at 38 earlier this month, the musician, 39, described how the couple felt ‘under pressure’ when they left the Big Brother house in 2006 and came under public scrutiny
‘When we split up it quite raw between us for a while. Plus I went a bit off radar so we drifted apart but about a year later we started messaging each other again. Nikki would call me and say in her funny voice: “Peeeeete, can I come and see you?’
Nikki was pictured with Pete in one of her final images, as she cuddled up to her ex-boyfriend in the poignant snap.
Nikki had struggled with anorexia for much of her life and was first admitted to a psychiatric hospital at age 12.
Last week, Nikki’s friends reactivated her fundraiser to help her heartbroken family pay for her funeral and help others with eating disorders.
The fundraiser was initially set up a month ago by Nikki’s friends and raised £65,000 for the Big Brother star to have specialist treatment for her eating disorder.
His love: Nikki was pictured with Pete in one of her final images, as she cuddled up to her ex-boyfriend in the poignant snap
Her friends posted a message reading: ‘We just wanted to let you know that we are turning donations back on for anyone that would like to make a donation in Nikki’s memory, as lots of people have been asking if they can still donate.
‘An amount will be used for the funeral costs and the remaining funds will be used to go towards an organisation that helps those suffering with eating disorders…
‘The crucial funding that has been lacking to help people in these awful situations has not been addressed, we will use this money to the best of our ability to try and stem this horrific, debilitating illness.’
Lost love: Big Brother 7 winner Pete and Northwood native Nikki fell for each other in the house and enjoyed a brief romance after leaving the show