Six reality TV stars who shunned the spotlight for normal life from hairdresser to drain unblocker
WHILE the bright lights and fame are a lure for many, there are some reality stars who turned their back on the spotlight.
But some reality TV stars ditched their lives in the limelight to go back to ‘normal’ life and some very regular jobs.
These skilled stars are putting their other talents to good use when it comes to making a living, working as hairdressers, personal trainers and shop owners.
Here’s our round-up of celebs who have left behind their fame for a more ‘normal’ job.
Towie’s Kirk Norcross – Jet washing and drains
Downing cocktails at the Sugar Hut and being on camera 24/7 became too much for Towie star Kirk Norcross and now he favours a more peaceful life.
He’s the boss of KN Jet Services, unblocking drains and leaving your drive spotless with his power washer.
Kirk has since found love with David Cotterill’s ex-wife Tanika eight months after his dad Mick tragically passed away.
Kirk has been single since his split from girlfriend Danielle Louise Carr, with whom he shares four-year-old son Harry.
He is also dad to daughter Violett, five, with ex Holli Willis.
X Factor’s Frankie Cocozza – Builder
Frankie Cocozza caused a stir on The X Factor as the wild child singer kicked off in 2011 for his rock and roll lifestyle.
But six years later, he admitted he’d blown £200,000 of his fortune on booze and turned his back on fame to work on a building site for £7.50 an hour.
Floppy-haired Frankie told that he would do his wild ride all over again given the chance and he admits he is worse at spending than ever before.
He married girlfriend Bianca in 2018 and the couple moved to her native Australia where they welcomed a son in May, 2019.
Frankie also seemed to be having another crack at music in the band, Monday Moon, but the group’s been quiet on social media since last year.
X-Factor’s Andy Abraham – Bin man
Andy Abraham was runner-up to Shayne Ward in 2005 and was affectionately nicknamed the Singing Binman by the public, due to his day job.
Following his stint on The X Factor, he signed a record deal with Sony and released four albums, with his first reaching number two on the UK charts.
Andy was dropped from his label and declared bankrupt in 2012.
He was performing in pantomimes and working as an event singer up until last year when the pandemic hit, and he decided to go back to working as a binman.
“I’m literally singing out there as I was during the X Factor show. I’m back to being the official singing binman, which is kind of cool,” he told .
“I’m just enjoying keeping my feet on the ground.”
Made In Chelsea’s Cheska Hull – Selling arts and crafts
Francesca Hull left the show in 2014, and a little later she traded in the PR-girl-at-Raffles life for the farm-girl-in-Devon life.
Francesca, who is now a mum to her gorgeous son Charlie, also has her own business creating and selling interesting pieces like black resin coasters and jewellery from oyster shells. You can check out her work on her .
Speaking to Mail Online in 2018, Cheska said: “The first two years of the show were exciting and different. But then it got darker. It was more about the drama than the comedy, at our expense. They didn’t care.
“I found the last two years emotionally very difficult. I was depressed, stressed and anxious.
“The best therapy was coming down here and being able to close the door on that London life.”
Big Brother’s Helen Adams – Hairdresser
Helen looks almost unrecognisable 20 years after shooting to fame on the reality show.
The star – famous for her flirtation with Paul Clarke in the house – is now 42 and living a much quieter life as a hairdresser near Bristol.
The Welsh hairdresser shot to fame on Big Brother’s second series in 2001 thanks to what became known as Helen-isms such as “I love blinking I do”.
The couple bought a house together and settled down in North London but split after five years together in 2006.
Helen admitted later that the strain of being in the capital, far from her family back in Wales, had begun to take its toll.
Towie’s Tom Pearce – Equity trader
Tom was only 22 when he first appeared on Towie as Joey Essex’s good mate.
He dated Lauren Goodger, Lauren Pope, Abi Clarke and Lucy Mecklenburgh.
Tom left after two years on the show because most of his friends had also moved on.
Since quitting the show, Tom’s gone on to have a career in equity trading in London.
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