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May 3rd 2009 Radio 5 Live The Gaby Roslin Show.
Nikki was invited on the show, to talk about her book DYING TO BE THIN which is launched on 7th May.
Nikki spoke very openly and eloquently, about how her anorexia started, and about the various institutions she was in.
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Nikki described her obsession about fat content in food, and how she used to cut and scratch herself, because of self hate, when she looked in the mirror.
Nikki described how anorexia is a selfish illness, and how she had no thought for her family.
Nikki said she had set out to be the best anorexic there has ever been.
Her turning point came when she ran away from Rhodes Farm, and suddenly realised what she had been missing, on the outside world. She decided she wanted to be like her friends, going to parties, shopping, boyfriends etc.
Nikki said Big Brother was the best thing she had ever done, and that she had hidden her illness from them, to get on the show.
Gaby summed up Nikki's book as a very compelling read, and said Nikki had written it to help other people.
8th May 2009 BBC Radio Kent, Interview with Dominic King for his morning show.
Nikki gave a very good, confident interview about her book, her behaviour in the Big Brother house and the reasons behind her anorexia.
Dom King introduced Nikki as bubbly and highly strung and asked whether her behaviour in Big Brother was really how she behaves. Nikki admitted that she did have big outbursts in the House but said that was how she had behaved in all the institutions she had been in for 10 years and the rest of the time she is a happy bubbly person.
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Dom asked her about the reasons for her illness and Nikki spoke about her parent's divorce, her struggles to make the grade in the gym squad and how she thought that if she was thinner she might be a better gymnast and her parents may stay together. When she was finally admitted to a children's psychiatric unit, she said, it was already too late. She was already locked into the world of anorexia, in the grip of this destructive illness.
When asked whether it was her parents break-up that was the main trigger, Nikki said that she thought it probably was but has sometimes wondered whether it started before that, whether it was something she was born with as some research has suggested.
Dom then asked Nikki about her recovery; about what made her want to live again. She describes how she ran away from hospital and was taken into care before going home, where she realised just how much she had missed of her childhood. She describes her return to Rhodes farm, so determined to get well that, as she laughingly admits, she stole food to get well quicker.
Asked about how she is now, Nikki says that she still has days when she feels what she calls "under the weather." On these days she can't and won't, look in a mirror.
The interview ends on a positive note. Nikki says her book is done and if it helps just one person then her experiences will have been worth it
11th May 2009. BBC Radio London, The Breakfast Show with Joanne Good and Paul Ross.
Nikki was interviewed by Joanne and Paul about the days subject: Eating Disorders.
Dr Dee Dawson, who treated Nikki at Rhodes Farm was on a phone-line.
Nikki gave an excellent interview which explained something about Nikki's illness; the impact it had on her family and how she coped with being on Big Brother.
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Joanne was a very sympathetic interviewer and said she had wanted to meet Nikki ever since she had seen her on BB because she could personally relate to what she went through. She also felt that many other women would also relate to it because of the various problems that they suffer which are connected with food.
She asked Nikki whether, knowing her problems with food, she thought that being in BB would be difficult: not only would she have to eat, but she would have to do it in front of cameras; did Nikki consider she would be able to do it or that she would be exposed.
Nikki explained that when she first came out of hospital she became OCD; she couldn't eat in front of anyone, couldn't go to restaurants, couldn't drink out of a glass unless she'd washed it several times. She said that she knew it would be hard but that BB allowed her to battle with and conquer some of those demons.
Paul Ross reminded Nikki that they had first met on Big Mouth. He asked how Nikki's mum had coped with it all. Nikki admitted that she had put her mother and indeed the rest of her family through hell. She said that her sister has found it difficult to come to terms with it all especially since the book has been written. Nikki admitted that when she was ill she simply didn't care about anything or anyone. Her mother used to spend 3 hours travelling to visit her and she wouldn't talk to her. She made her take her to the park where she would run laps around the park to burn off calories.
Dr Dee Dawson was asked to comment on the severity of Nikki's illness and said that Nikki's case was extreme but that there were, and still are, many cases as bad as Nikki's. These are the ones she sees as they come to Rhodes Farm as a last resort and she explained a bit about their treatment methods.
Nikki was then asked if she was OK now and at a healthy weight. Whilst Nikki admitted that she was still underweight for her height, she said she was healthy and happy. She said that she won't weigh herself now because it becomes an addiction.
Finally Nikki was asked whether there will ever be a time when she doesn't think about what she's eaten and what she's going to eat. Nikki replied that she will always be aware of what she's eaten and what she looks like but she won't allow it control her.
June 21, 2009 Nikki Grahame on Kerrang! Radio
Despite having a rather hoarse voice from too much shouting at the Isle of Wight festival, Nikki gave a confident interview about the publication of her book and her time in Big Brother. read more
June 22, 2009 Nikki Grahame on talkSPORT radio
Nikki gave an excellent and entertaining interview about celebrity life after Big Brother and about her book.
The interview began with a discussion about Big Brother, with Ian saying that Nikki was in the show when it was at its peak. She explained why she had applied for the show and also described her appearance on Blind Date in which she got to pick her date who turned out not to be to Nikki's liking, although she had a good holiday in Portugal out of it! read more
During the week of her book launch.
Nikki did quite a lot of radio interviews as well as the Richard and Judy interview on Watch TV. And in every one, she spoke honestly and sincerely from the heart. Nikki told of her ambition to open a drop in centre to help others.
Many people including myself are behind her 100% in realising her ambition.
Des
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Nikki Grahame was born in Watford in 1982. Her parents separated when she was a child and she cites both this and the death of her beloved grandfather as catalysts for the start of her severe eating disorder. Between eight and nineteen years old, Nikki was in and out of hospitals and institutions as she battled with anorexia nervosa. At one point, her weight was so dangerously low that she went into a coma; one of the doctors treating her said that hers was the worst case of anorexia he had seen in 32 years. Although she will never be 'cured' of the illness, Nikki made the decision that she wanted to live her life again and has not looked back since. Her time as a contestant in Big Brother 7 made her a household name and, since leaving the house, Nikki has established a career in the media. She has written columns for OK!, the Sun and More magazine and has been a presenter on Big Brother spin-off BBLB.
Nikki devotes a lot of her spare time to increasing awareness of eating disorders and hopes that by sharing her life story, she will help others who fall victim.
