Duncan James says he 'begged Nikki Grahame to eat' before her death and regrets missing his chance to say goodbye to her
DUNCAN James has broken his silence after the death of pal Nikki Grahame last Friday following her life-long battle with anorexia.
The 43-year-old reflected on their friendship in a new interview and recalled how he "tried to encourage her" to eat after she went to support him in Chicago in 2018.
Speaking to OK! Magazine, he said: "She looked so thin then. I said, 'You need to eat. Why are you so thin?' And she said, 'Oh stop nagging me!' I said, 'No, you've got to start to eat.' And she said, 'I’ve been battling this for years.'"
In light of her tragic passing, the Blue star said he "wished he’d known" that Nikki had been admitted to a specialist clinic as her "last hope" to get better, so that he could’ve tried to contact to her.
Duncan added: "It's really sad because I wish I'd known. I wish someone had told me she was in a hospital. At least I could have tried to contact her and speak to her or at least say goodbye.
"That's the sad thing when somebody that you're fond of and you know and you care about when they die you don't get a chance to say goodbye. That's what was really hard."
Duncan and Nikki first met after she left Big Brother in 2006. The pair went on to have a 15 year friendship – and even at one point Nikki considered using the singer as her sperm donor.
In September 2019, the reality TV icon had revealed her hopes for a baby using IVF – and had vowed to go through the process alone if she didn't find a partner by 40.
When asked if she would consider pal Duncan as a sperm donor, the TV star admitted he'd be a good choice, especially since he's already a dad to daughter Tianie-Finn.
Nikki, whose fertility was affected by her eating disorder, told new! magazine at the time: "Could you imagine?! How good would that be? I should send him a whatsapp".
Earlier this week, Nikki's friends reopened the charity appeal that helped fund her treatment so that fans can donate towards her funeral costs.
The 38-year-old Big Brother icon was admitted to a specialist clinic earlier this year as her "last hope" to get better, but she died last Friday following a three-decade battle with anorexia.
The fundraiser's target was initially £25,000, with big-hearted celebs including Rylan Clark-Neal, Michelle Visage, and Vanessa Feltz each donating £500.
It has raised more than twice that so far, and additional funds will be used towards Nikki's funeral costs and a charity helping those suffering from eating disorders.
You’re Not Alone
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It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
On the page, the star's friends Carly Cunningham and Leon Dee thanked everyone for their support and kind messages.
They said: "We just wanted to let you know that we are turning donations back on for anyone that would like to make a donation in Nikki's memory, as lots of people have been asking if they can still donate.
"An amount will be used for the funeral costs and the remaining funds will be used to go towards an organisation that helps those suffering with eating disorders, the crucial funding that has been lacking to help people in these awful situations has not been addressed, we will use this money to the best of our ability to try and stem this horrific, debilitating illness.
"We also would like to thank people who have sent private messages with lovely words about Nikki, she would be so thankful."
Nikki had been open about her anorexia battle since finding fame in Big Brother back in 2006, releasing autobiography Dying To Be Thin in 2009.
She has been fighting the illness since she was a child, and was first admitted to a psychiatric hospital at the age of 12 following a suicide bid.
At one point, Nikki had to be force fed through a nasal tube after she starved herself.
Despite her battle with the eating disorder, Nikki's bubbly personality – and dramatic reactions – made her an instant hit when she entered Big Brother in series seven in 2006.
Nikki also appeared as a guest housemate in series 16 in 2015 and took part in the fourth series of Big Brother Canada the following year, finishing in sixth place.
Her success on Big Brother lead to her winning a National Television Award for Most Popular TV Contender.
- For help and support on eating disorders and body image, you can call Beat Eating Disorders on 0808 201 1677 for adults, or 0808 801 0711 if you are under 18
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