BIG CHANGES
Cleaning drains, £7.50 building job & Roxanne Pallett’s sheltered life – Celebrity Big Brother stars who packed in fame
X Factor bad boy admitted he'd 'still be doing cocaine' if the money hadn't run out
IF you're a struggling star, reality TV can be a great way to reboot your career.
However, in the case of these Celebrity Big Brother contestants, it proved to be the start of a whole new life altogether.
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After the new series kicked off last night, fans will be looking to the likes of Louis Walsh and Fern Britton to reveal secrets of the showbiz world.
But what happened to those who left fame behind completely for 'normal' jobs after leaving the iconic house?
Roxanne Pallett
Emmerdale actress Roxanne, 41, went on the show in 2018 in a bid to revive her acting career.
But things went south quickly when she accused housemate Ryan Thomas, 39, of punching her.
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He jokingly shadow-boxed boxed at her when she asked if he needed any help tidying up.
She complained to fellow contestants that he had punched her repeatedly in the ribs “like a boxer punches a bag" and that she felt uncomfortable sleeping in the same room as him.
While he went on to win, the allegations have followed Roxanne, and she relocated to .
The former actress is now married to ex-firefighter Jason Carrion, with whom she has a child, and is rarely seen. She's also got rid of her social media.
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Donny Tourette
Rock star Donny, 43, found fame with his band Towers of London, but by 2007 his star was waning.
The singer headed on Celebrity Big Brother and lasted just 48 hours before leaving by scaling a wall.
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He was given a boost from Ian 'H' Watkins after learning Jade Goody and her mum were set to join them in the house.
While he is still in the band, he isn't quite scaling the dizzying heights of fame anymore.
Donny has ditched his signature messy blonde locks and now looks anything but a punk rocker.
He now spends his time roller-skating in California, far away from the British public.
Kenzie
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As a member of Blazin' Squad, Kenzie enjoyed fame and fortune during the early Noughties, but things weren't looking so rosy for the band by 2005.
He signed up to Celebrity Big Brother and finished in second place thanks after winning over legions of fans.
He briefly dated Jodie Marsh, who he claimed “taught me a few things, being an older woman. She introduced me to new pleasures and all kinds of different positions.”
Perhaps inspired after broadening his horizons, Kenzie overhauled his career too, becoming a personal trainer and DJ.
These days, he is a father-of-two to Wynter and Wyllow with his girlfriend of over a decade.
Frankie Cocozza
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X Factor bad boy Frankie cashed in on his five minutes of fame by appearing on CBB.
The singer, 31, managed to chimed well with audiences and came second in 2012 to Denise Welch.
The following year, he released his EP Embrace, which failed to chart.
Since then, he has stepped away from the limelight and settled down in Sydney, Australia.
He revealed in 2017 that he was working on a building site for just £7.50 an hour.
In 2018, he married Bianca Murphy and in 2019 they welcomed their son, Frankie Jr.
Since finding fame on X Factor, Frankie has admitted to . He said in 2022: “I'm a drug addict. Simple as that. I just am. I love cocaine. I'm sorry, I do.
“I know that if money hadn't run out, I'd still be snorting gear. It's a fact.”
The pair split in 2023. A source told The Sun: “Frankie and Bianca were madly in love but things just fizzled out over time."
Jodie Marsh
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Glamour model Jodie certainly spiced up the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2006, and she was invited back in 2012.
She has since stepped back from modelling and TV work to focus on her animal rescue centre in Fripps, in Great Dunmow, near Chelmsford in Essex.
Jodie cares for 600 animals including 20 equines, meerkats, skunks and more exotic breads.
She explained: “I’d said my whole entire life I will have an animal sanctuary when I retire.
“I always kept thinking when the time's right, when I retire, when I have enough money.
“But then my mum got sick, and I realised life's so short, why am I not doing what I want to be doing now?
“So I just went, ‘F*** it, I'm doing it.’ And I started, and it snowballed, and now here we are with 350 animals.”
Kirk Norcross
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Former The Only Way Is Essex star Kirk, 35, appeared on CBB in 2012.
After being the fourth housemate to be booted out, he returned for a brief stint on TOWIE before stepping back from reality TV.
Kirk has since been seen happily working an ordinary job as a jet-washer in Essex.
Dad-of-two Kirk, who runs KN Jet Services in Essex, said: “I realise working up a ladder clearing drains and jet-washing driveways isn’t as glamorous as being on the telly.
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“But I wouldn’t swap things for the world. I am so glad. I am away from that life now. When I was on Towie I was known everywhere I went.
"I used to buy Ferarris, expensive watches and designer jeans — now I’m happy with a £20 pair from Topman."
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