Lizzie Cundy says late Nikki Grahame ‘helped her avoid an anorexia relapse’ following her divorce

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‘She saved my life’: Lizzie Cundy says late friend Nikki Grahame ‘helped her avoid an anorexia relapse’ following her divorce – amid BB star’s own 30-year battle

  • For help and support with eating disorders contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit www.seedeatingdisorders.org.uk 

By Rianne Addo For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Lizzie Cundy has reflected on her friendship with late friend Nikki Grahame after she passed away aged 38 earlier this month.

In a new interview, the host, 52, recalled when the Big Brother star helped her avoid an anorexia relapse following her divorce from her ex-husband Jason, amid the reality icon’s own 30-year battle with the eating disorder.

The presenter said: ‘We understood each other and she helped me. I have to say she probably saved my life in some respect, because when my marriage split up it was so awful. She was always there to help me not slip down that road again.’

‘She saved my life’: Lizzie Cundy has reflected on her friendship with late friend Nikki Grahame after she passed away aged 38 earlier this month (pictured in 2011)

Former glamour model Lizzie – who first went public about her battle for the first time in 2017 – was married to the former footballer, 51, from 1994 until 2012. 

On suffering from the breakdown of their relationship, the TV star added to new! magazine: ‘Thankfully – I got over it – although you don’t ever properly get over it. But I controlled it and I started to enjoy food. With Nikki, she could never shake it off. 

‘I always thought we could save her. When my marriage split up, I was having a wobble and she looked at me and said, ”I can tell you’re going down that path”. She would shower me with compliments and was really good to me.’

The media personality also praised her ‘brave’ pal who ‘hated the thought of other people going through it’, and admitted she ‘should have taken more notice’ about Nikki’s condition amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

'She was so brave': The host, 52, recalled when the Big Brother star helped her avoid an anorexia relapse following her divorce, amid the reality icon's own battle (pictured in 2013)

‘She was so brave’: The host, 52, recalled when the Big Brother star helped her avoid an anorexia relapse following her divorce, amid the reality icon’s own battle (pictured in 2013)

Exes: Former glamour model Lizzie - who first went public about her battle for the first time in 2017 - was married to the former footballer, 51, from 1994 until 2012

Exes: Former glamour model Lizzie – who first went public about her battle for the first time in 2017 – was married to the former footballer, 51, from 1994 until 2012

 

Final post: The TV legend admitted months previously she was struggling to 'deal' with another coronavirus lockdown in what was to be her final social media post

Final post: The TV legend admitted months previously she was struggling to ‘deal’ with another coronavirus lockdown in what was to be her final social media post

Long-term friends: Former couple Nikki and Pete Bennett, who maintained a friendship since their split in 2006, were seen sweetly cuddling in her final snap (pictured)

Long-term friends: Former couple Nikki and Pete Bennett, who maintained a friendship since their split in 2006, were seen sweetly cuddling in her final snap (pictured)

Nikki had previously admitted she was struggling to ‘deal’ with another coronavirus lockdown in what was to be her final social media post.  

Alongside a video montage of some of her infamous tantrums in the Big Brother house, she wrote: ‘My reaction to the second national lockdown announcement.’ 

In her caption, she added: ‘Not this again….seriously can’t deal #lockdown #f**kcovid19 #fml.’ 

It is believed that the star was released from hospital in Devon a day before her tragic death.  

WHAT IS ANOREXIA? 

Anorexia is a serious mental illness where a person restricts their food intake, which often causes them to be severely underweight.

Many also exercise excessively.

Some sufferers may experience periods of bingeing, followed by purging. 

Sufferers often have a distorted view of themselves and think they are larger than they really are.

Untreated, patients can suffer loss of muscle and bone strength, as well as depression, low libido and menstruation ceasing in women.

In severe cases, patients can experience heart problems and organ damage.

Behavioural signs of anorexia include people saying they have already eaten or will do later, as well as counting calories, missing meals, hiding food and eating slowly.

As well as weight loss, sufferers may experience insomnia, constipation, bloating, feeling cold, hair loss, and swelling of the hands, face and feet.

Treatment focuses on therapy and self-help groups to encourage healthy eating and coping mechanisms.

Source: Beat Eating Disorders

 

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.

‘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.’

 

'Not a day will go by without missing your smile': Nikki's friend Leon Dee paid tribute to his late friend and revealed money raised on GoFundMe will be given to charity (pictured in 2017)

‘Not a day will go by without missing your smile’: Nikki’s friend Leon Dee paid tribute to his late friend and revealed money raised on GoFundMe will be given to charity (pictured in 2017)