Nikki Grahame’s ex Pete Bennett reveals her heartbreaking final text before checking into eating disorder clinic
NIKKI Grahame's ex-boyfriend Pete Bennett has revealed the final heartbreaking text she sent him just before checking into an eating disorder clinic.
The Big Brother icons struck up a relationship in the CCTV house back in 2006, with Pete going on to win the series.
They remained friends after the romance fizzled out, and Pete was in contact with Nikki, 38, up until her tragic death from anorexia complications earlier this month.
He told the pair sang and danced to Kate Bush's song Babooshka not long before her death.
Sharing the text she sent him days later, it read: "Hey Petie, all good my end. Starting a clinic on Monday, which is good. And the sun is shining today!’"
Nikki also messaged Big Brother star Richard Newman while receiving treatment, telling him she desperately wanted to watch an 80s movie.
Musician and actor Pete revealed he had tried to arrange a special surprise for Nikki in the hope it would help her recovery.
He said: "I was looking to contact Kate Bush to see if she could send Nikki a message as I honestly thought that giving her a boost from her hero would help her start to feel more positive and recover.
"But then we got the news that she was gone. And it was too late."
Yesterday we revealed Nikki's death has sparked a full internal investigation at Dorset County Hospital as her family believe she was discharged too early for anorexia treatment.
Nikki spent three weeks in Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, before leaving on April 9.
Her body was found the following day at her London home.
She had been scheduled to start “more relaxed” private treatment, thanks to funds raised on her GoFundMe page, which was set up by her pals.
A spokeswoman for Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust told the Sun: “Staff at the Trust were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Miss Grahame, and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Miss Grahame at this very difficult time.
“A full internal investigation into the circumstances of Miss Grahame’s death is currently underway. This is in line with standard procedures following any sudden death.
“All information and findings arising from this investigation will be shared confidentially with Miss Grahame’s family, and thereafter with the Coroner as part of any Coronial process.
“The Trust will do everything it can to assist the Coroner in any ongoing Coronial process.”
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A source close to the star’s family said: “Those close to Nikki feel she would be alive today if she hadn’t been discharged so soon.
“Her family feel she wasn’t strong enough physically to care for herself. It’s left them shocked and heartbroken. It’s an extremely difficult time for them.”
She is reported to have weighed less than five stone when she was discharged.
Nikki — who first starred on the Channel 4 reality show in 2006 — had been open about her eating disorder during her time in the spotlight, previously revealing she was first admitted to a psychiatric hospital at 12 following a suicide bid.
At one point she had to be force-fed through a nasal tube after she starved herself.
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Last month Nikki’s mum Sue appeared on This Morning and said her daughter’s health battle was sparked when gyms closed during lockdown as the star dreaded eating if she couldn’t exercise.
She said: “With Covid, it sounds crazy but stuff like gyms closing impacted her.
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“In order for her to eat she needs to know she can exercise, so when they closed it was quite a worry, the isolation as well.
“I asked her if she would come and stay with me but she said she needs to be in her home.”