“We had to film a video as part of our application and mine stood out because I chatted about myself while having a tattoo of an Aztec symbol done on my spine .”

Four weeks later Nichola got the call that she had been chosen, beating over 40,000 people who applied for the firsts series..

“I  wanted to get away from my family and have a time out and this seemed like a fun solution,” Nichola says.

“My mum told me not to go and of course it made me more determined.”

Nichola explains that while you might expect five star service, there was no chauffeured car or free train trip to London.

“I was so broke I had to borrow fifty quid fare to get there,” she says.

“I packed a tracksuit, a couple of vest , shorts and jeans and that was all I had in the world when I went into the house.

“Before we entered the house we were put up in a hotel and got a short briefing from producers.”

Nichola, who had spent most of her life travelling, living in communes and being  an anarchist, admits the first night  in the Big Brother house was a shock.

She says: “I walked in and was faced with a room full of strangers who were all so different. 

“I decided I was going to treat it like my home, make friends, be myself, do some art and create some chaos.”

Nichola, who celebrated her 29th birthday in the house, admits  she had no idea that she and her other contestants would make television history.

“We didn't know if it was going to be a success, if anyone was watching it, we had no idea of the response on the outside world,” Nichola says.

“We were suddenly cut off and tensions ran high.

"Everything is magnified in there, something that might make you feel a little irritated or insecure in normal situations would feel like a huge deal on the show.”

Nichola, who was dubbed a ‘no brain northerner’ by some fans, instantly became friends with Claire Struttoin, Sada Walkington and Darren Ramsay when she entered the house.

“I saw Nick Bateman, the man we dubbed Nasty Nick and instantly smelt a rat,” she says.  

“We didn't get on but it wasn’t just him that I didn’t see eye to eye with.

“I called Andrew Davison the grey man because he was bland, boring and had a grey personality.

“He acted like there was no caffeine in coffee or sugar in chocolate.

“He had a hidden stash of cigarettes and I didn't like the way he only offered them to people that he liked.”

Nichola admits that of all the tasks they had to perform, the shopping tasks were toughest.

“We had to work as a team and everyone had their own agenda,” she says.

“I only wanted some booze, fags and pasta but everyone was just out for themselves.”

On day two of filming, the housemates were asked to make a clay bowl and mug using a potter's wheel to win money for the weekly shop.

“We wagered 20% of their weekly shopping budget on the task,” Nichola says.

“We ended up breaking three or more items and we failed and learnt the hard way failure meant less food and alcohol.”

A passionate artist, Nichola was obsessed with using her art skills to decorate the house like her home, long after the potter’s wheel was put away.

“I mixed together flour and water for glue and ripped up magazines and used them to decorate the walls,” Nichola says.

“Some housemates lost the plot because I was using the few magazines they had to read but it was a way of keeping busy.

“You can't just go to the shops or pop to the park and so you have to make your own fun and I liked to spice things up when I could.

“What many people don't know is that most of the diary room moments are not broadcast.

“There was one time the other girls and I piled into the diary room to request a vibrator but Big Brother denied our request.”

Fans of the show will likely remember Nichola’s naked appearances in the house.

“When I got the call I was going to be in Big Brother I didn't have many clothes,” she admits.

"My whole world came crashing down on me, there were so many vultures and very few people took me seriously."

“I didn't take a huge wardrobe into the house and so I spent a lot of the time naked and I think that shocked people.

“These days reality tv stars have stylists and social media campaigns. 

“I didn't have any of that, I was ‘real’ and unscripted and I loved that.

"Of course the final edit showed me to be a bit of a naked northern numpty with a big gob and weird clothes.

"People forget that you’re a real person and it was hard to adapt to that once we left the house.”

Nichola was nominated in the fifth week for eviction, receiving four nomination votes against eventual winner Craig.

It was  Day 36, Nichola was evicted when 72% of the public vote for her to go.

"My whole world came crashing down on me, there were so many vultures and very few people took me seriously,” she says.

Nichola admits she had good times and bad times after the show.

“I eventually suffered a mental breakdown as a result of the fallout from the show,” Nichola says.

“My mental health really suffered as a result of the negative press that I got.

“I am tougher and more focused than ever now and I really hope that I can inspire people to get the help they need if they suffer depression or anxiety.

Nichola says that by far her biggest achievement since leaving the show is becoming a mum.

“My wonderful daughter Ava- Rose, 12 is the centre of my world, I love being a single mum,” she says.

“At the moment I am working on my art at home and prioritising homeschooling Ava.

“It’s something we started in lockdown and I love teaching her so we decided to carry on.”

Nichola is still sporting her shaved head and says she is recognised by fans 23 years after appearing on the show.

“I love talking to fans and sharing the positives of the show,” Nichola says.

“I’m still in contact with some of the contestants and we follow each other on social media.

“For those contestants appearing on this year’s show I say be yourself and have fun. 

“And most importantly be original, don’t just do what your publicist or agent reckons will get you the most likes or followers.

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“Just be real like me.”

Fabulous has contacted Channel 4 for a comment

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