Big Brother icon Chantelle Houghton has confessed that she was left with trauma and needed therapy because of the show. 

The TV star, 41, became a legend after appearing on Big Brother in 2006 and then reappeared on the show its ‘ultimate’ spin-off in 2010. 

But it seems that the show had a lasting negative impact on the star as she told the Sun that it left her with ‘trauma’ and has warned contestants to prioritise their mental health before the show launch on Monday.

Chantelle, who was the only non-celebrity on the show at the time, told the publication: ‘I’ve previously struggled with my mental health, because of trauma that I went through.

‘I’m in therapy taking good care of myself – so I just think if you are prone to having issues with your mental health, then I wouldn’t suggest putting yourself in certain situations.

‘One of them would be a reality show where you are going to be really open to criticism, and if you don’t deal with that easily, then you shouldn’t put yourself in that situation.  

Big Brother icon Chantelle Houghton has confessed that she was left with trauma and needed therapy because of the show

The TV star, 41, became a legend after appearing on Big Brother in 2006 and then reappeared on the show its ‘ultimate’ spin-off in 2010

MailOnline has contacted Channel 4, who produced the show during the time Chantelle appeared on the show, for a comment. 

During her time on the show, the winner met her ex-husband and Ordinary Boys singer, Samuel Preston, 42, on the reality show in 2006, with the two becoming engaged in April of that year and tying the knot just four months later.

But the couple called time on their marriage just 10 months later, and eventually divorced in November 2007. 

Reflecting on her relationship with Preston in 2023 she told The Sun: ‘Being in the house and meeting Preston was a whirlwind. It was such a happy time.

‘I finally got over the fact I was the only non-celebrity, I’d pᴀssed the task, and then I was just slowly falling in love with somebody.

‘I’ve still got so much love for him. We were just so young, and it was so full-on. It was like a holiday romance, but it was so much more intensified.’

She also appeared on This Morning where she discussed the short-lived relationship with host Josie Gibson. 

‘I think it was around 18 months but we’re still really good friends, we’re still in contact.

But it seems the show had a lasting impact on the star as she said it left her with ‘trauma’ and has warned contestants to prioritise their mental health before the show launch on Monday

During her time on the show, the winner met her ex-husband and Ordinary Boys singer, Samuel Preston, 42, on the reality show in 2006 (pictured)

Chantelle was later fleetingly engaged to her partner Alex Reid who is the father of her 11-year-old daughter Dolly but the two split almost three months after their daughter was done 

 Chantelle revealed that she has split from her fiancé Michael Strutt, with the pair having gone their separate ways in 2021 (pictured in 2020)

‘I’ve just recently moved house, I’ve still got my wedding dress! We do still keep in contact I’ve still got so much love for him.’

Since her relationship with Preston, Chantelle was fleetingly engaged to her partner Alex Reid who is the father of her 11-year-old daughter Dolly. 

The pair put a ring on it just six months into their relationship back in October 2011 but put wedding plans on hold after the birth of their daughter. 

However less than three months after the birth of their daughter Chantelle called quits on the relationship after her husband, who was a former husband of Katie Price, was arrested for trying to force entry into Katie’s house in EsSєx. 

Chantelle was also engaged to her most recent fiancé Michael Strutt in April 2020 after a nine year friendship developed into a three and a half month whirlwind romance. 

Yet the lockdown romance didn’t last and the two split in 2021 after they admitted they took things to quickly. 

Chantelle said at the time: ‘With lockdown, we moved in together really quickly. That put a lot of pressure on things.’