HUNGER GAMES
Reality stars’ failed TV bids before fame – from Traitors star’s game show flop to Strictly pro’s double BGT rejection
Rylan Clark's first TV appearance wasn't on The X Factor...
REALITY stars... they’re all desperate for their 15 minutes of fame - but sometimes it takes more than one go to hit the big time.
Many now famous faces from the likes of Married At First Sight and Strictly Come Dancing tried their luck on other shows first.
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Traitors star Paul Gorton is the latest to have an old game show appearance resurface - he went on Deal or No Deal in 2010.
After swapping boxes with the Banker, Paul walked away with a measly 10p out of a possible £250,000 - which many Traitors fans have joked is his “origin story”.
Paul also admitted host Noel Edmonds threatened to boot him off the show for repeatedly asking to go to the toilet.
Here we reveal other celebs who tried their hands at another TV shows before getting their big break.
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Kai Widdrington
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Kai Widdrington joined the cast of Strictly in 2021 as a professional dancer and made the final with AJ Odudu before she was forced to pull out due to injury.
But he’d already impressed the nation with his moves twice before on Britain’s Got Talent.
In 2012, aged 16, Kai made it to the finals of the ITV talent competition with his dance partner Natalia Jeved, having wowed the judges with a dance routine to Show Me How You Burlesque by Christina Aguilera.
He auditioned for the show again two years later, as part of Latin dance troupe Kings and Queens.
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And he wasn’t the only Strictly professional in the group, as he was joined by Katya and Neil Jones - who were married at the time. Sadly the group crashed out in the semi-finals.
Paige Turley
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She’s more famous now for winning Love Island with Finley Tapp in 2020, but Paige Turley was first.
In 2012, aged just 14, Paige sang the iconic Birdy tune Skinny Love - leaving her dad in tears.
Her performance was branded “absolutely fantastic” by judge Simon Cowell, and she was sent through to the next round of the talent show with all four judges in unanimous agreement - but she missed out on a place in the final.
Molly Rainford
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Before appearing on Strictly in 2022, Molly Rainford was known for being on the CBBC show Nova Jones.
But prior to that the actress - who’s now in EastEnders - had actually appeared on BGT aged 11, in 2012.
Molly’s singing impressed the viewers and judges so much she made it all the way through to the finals.
Simon and Sony Music even honoured her with their first ever drama school scholarship at internationally renowned Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Nathanial Valentino
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Nathanial Valentino was blasted as “fame hungry” when he appeared on Married At First Sight last year, having popped up on Geordie Shore: Hot Single Summer, which aired in 2021.
He was also on E4's Young Free and Single in 2015, which saw singletons living in a house together and going on dates while viewers voted for what happened next.
On the show, hosted by Steve Jones, Nathanial went on a few dates with Laura Carter - who later went on Big Brother - and surprised her with flowers on her birthday live on TV.
The short-lived dating show also starred Dean McCollough, who’s now a BBC Radio 1 presenter.
Laura Vaughan
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Fellow MAFS star Laura Vaughan also had some reality TV experience prior to last year.
The brunette beauty was on Celebs Go Dating in 2022, where she went on dates with Gary Lucy and Pete Wicks.
Things went quite well for her and former Hollyoaks star Gary, with the pair sharing a kiss in the hot tub.
Laura even joked, “Let's go" when Gary said he makes “beautiful babies”.
However Gary later cooled things, admitting he’d “checked out” and was thinking more about Love Islander Laura Anderson, who he went on to have daughter Bonnie with.
Chloe Ferry
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Having caused chaos on Geordie Shore from 2015, it’s no surprise Chloe Ferry was once on BBC Three's Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents.
The now defunct show saw teens going off on boozy holidays away from their parents for the first time, unaware they were being watched the whole time.
Chloe’s episode, also in 2015, saw her jetting off to Sunny Beach in Bulgaria with her best friend Beth, declaring: “Boys. I love boys. Drunk goggles on, anyone's fit. A tramp, I'd be like, 'Eee, you're lush.'
"I can't handle my drink. I'm not responsible at all. It just does this thing to me, I just don't know what it is. Literally, I just go off by myself running for my life."
After downing two drinks at once, Chloe had a barney with Beth before wandering off, only to be found having a row with a shrub she'd named Judith after urinating in the street.
Peggy Rose
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Another star from the most recent series of MAFS who’d already been on a reality show is Peggy Rose.
The former IT professional was on Take Me Out in 2012, and was nicknamed “Picky Peggy” by host Paddy McGuinness due to her rarely keeping her light on.
But it’s a wonder anyone recognised her when she was on MAFS, as she looked completely different.
Peggy has admitted she was “horrified” by the sound of her voice when she watched herself back on Take Me Out.
Megan McKenna
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BGT seems like one of the best places for TV stars to start out, as Megan McKenna auditioned for it in 2009, aged 16.
The former TOWIE star took to the stage with pal Demi Bennett as singing duo Harmony, performing What Is This Feeling from the musical Wicked.
She also auditioned for X Factor twice in 2014 and 2015, getting to boot camp on both occasions, although there’s no evidence of either of these appearances.
Megan later went on to Ex On The Beach and then won X Factor: Celebrity, and now sings for a living, despite the fact Simon laughed when she said she wanted to sing country music.
Brad Skelly
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Yet another 2023 MAFS star to have appeared on TV previously is Brad Skelly.
The universe-loving star, who was kicked off the E4 show, was originally on Celebs Go Dating in 2016.
Brad enjoyed a string of dates with Geordie Shore legend Charlotte Crosby when he was 20.
The couple appeared to be getting close as fresh-faced Brad did his best to try and impress Charlotte, but things soon fizzled out.
Rylan Clark
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Rylan is so much more than a reality star now, having presented This Morning, Strictly: It Takes Two and on BBC Radio 2, among others.
But most people remember him starting out on The X Factor, before winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2012.
However, he was actually on another reality show the year before that, when he took part in Katie Price’s show Signed by Katie Price.
The Sky Living programme saw contestants competing for a contract with Katie’s company Blacksheep Management, and Rylan placed second behind winner Amy Willerton - now a model.
Olly Murs
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Olly Murs shot to fame on X Factor in 2009, coming second to Joe McElderry in the final.
But he’d already been on TV two years earlier when he competed on Deal Or No Deal.
He was trying to win enough money to fund his mum's medical care, but walked away with just £10 - less than the cost of his train fare
To make matters worse, Olly was offered £26,000 by the Banker at one point in his game, but turned it down.
Kerry Riches
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Kerry Riches made quite the impression in the Big Brother house last year, but long before that the NHS manager from Essex tried her luck on Deal Or No Deal, winning £35,000 in the process.
Her 2007 episode can be chalked down as a classic, not only because of the banter Kerry had with host Noel, but because the studio suffered a power cut mid-game.
The boxes in front of the contestants were then put into locked cages to protect the integrity of the game.
When the show returned after the break, the lights were back on and Noel could be seen unpacking the cage, admitting "this is most unusual".
Farida Khalifa
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Farida Khalifa was Kerry’s nemesis throughout their time in the Big Brother house, but both obviously have a penchant for telly.
Farida was on Come Dine With Me in 2009, and ended up having a furious row with one of the other contestants, Michael, when he only rated her food a seven.
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He explained: "The evening lacked a wow factor... and because of the lack of alcohol for the guests."
Tensions were left high as the programme then switched to a preview of the next episode which saw Farida lock horns with Michael once again.
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