‘It’s funny being a celebrity but living on benefits’: Former Big Brother contestant Lisa Appleton claims getting back in the spotlight is the only way off the dole in C5 show
On Benefits: Living the High Life sees Lisa Appleton show the dark side of post-reality TV life
FORMER Big Brother contestant Lisa Appleton, who has been claiming benefits for three and a half years, thinks regaining her former fame is the answer to her struggles.
In a new documentary On Benefits: Living the High Life, Channel 5 follows Lisa, in Warrington, as she heads to Blackpool with her dog Henry to consult a psychic to see if she's due an overturn into her fortunes.
"I'm praying she's going to predict lots of amazing things coming up and soon, very soon - success," she said.
The ex-reality star, who normally has to rely on public transport, borrowed her daughter's car for the 100-mile round journey.
"Taxis and trains are just too expensive," she explains.
Last year, the show revealed Lisa at rock bottom and adjusting to a life on benefits - a huge fall from her Big Brother glory days.
"I've lost everything, I've lost my insanity, I've lost my marriage, I've lost my car, my home, security. I've lost my way," she said.
"I absolutely hate it when people say 'just get a job' - you can't just get a job."
Back in 2008, Mario Marconi and Lisa Appleton were forced to hide their relationship by BB producers when they first entered the house - despite going onto the show as a couple.
Mario proposed on camera and the pair got married.
But they divorced in 2008 after a conman "destroyed" their lives, by filming them for six months for a non-existent reality TV show.
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Recalling her days when she rose to fame, she said: "Nothing prepared me for the overnight success and fame that I had. It was huge. I was knocking back magazine deals, newspaper deals, photo shoots, exclusives.
"I was earning £10,000, one in particular £25,000."
But the offers quickly dried up and the money stopped coming in meaning she was surviving on £7,000 a year in benefits and living in a small one-bedroom flat.
Today, she's still broke but hopeful that psychic Janette has good news for her.
Janette tells her: "You're the leader, I actually don't see that but what I do see you doing is forgetting everything in the past.
"You've been in the rock bottom - when you're rock bottom there's only one way to go and that's go back up again."
The Blackpool psychic predicts a future career for Lisa back in the spotlight.
"I'm seeing you as an extra or something to do with acting in a part," Janette told her.
But more importantly, she sees her life off benefits saying "it will never happen again" adding she's going to be "standing on her own two-feet" soon.
Delighted Lisa said: "It's very exciting what she predicted for me. That was a relief, I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
After her reading with her psychic, Lisa is hoping her fortune is up and that she will regain her celeb status.
Hopeful Lisa, who currently makes some money by cleaning and dog walking, added: "I'm raring to go again, My energy has picked up."
Now, the celeb-wannabe has an agent to put her forward for media exposure and has recently made unpaid appearances at a VIP parties and an an interview for her local radio.
Her first paid part-time job includes writing a BB column for an entertainment website but says it's not enough income for her to stand on her own feet.
Lisa, who is hoping to release an auto-biography, believes it will take her six months to get off benefits.
On Benefits: Living the High Life airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 5