Tim Dormer shares a touching birthday tribute to late friend and Big Brother star Nikki Grahame

April 2024 · 4 minute read

Tim Dormer has shared a tribute to late Big Brother UK star Nikki Grahame on what would have been her 40th birthday.

Nikki died last year after a lifelong battle with anorexia.

The Big Brother Australia alum, 36, took to Instagram on Thursday to share several throwback photos of the pair travelling together.

Tribute: On Thursday, Tim Dormer shared a touching tribute to late friend and Big Brother star Nikki Grahame on what would have been her 40th birthday after she tragically died after a lifelong battle with anorexia

Tribute: On Thursday, Tim Dormer shared a touching tribute to late friend and Big Brother star Nikki Grahame on what would have been her 40th birthday after she tragically died after a lifelong battle with anorexia

Tim, who appeared alongside Nikki on Big Brother Canada in 2016, wrote in the caption: ‘It would’ve been your 40th birthday today, darling!

‘I’ll never forget that joint party they threw us in the Big Brother Canada house with English bulldog pups and a kangaroo!’

‘Miss the fun times with you, Nikki!’

The gallery included photos of the pair having fun at the beach and posing in front of Uluru in the Northern Territory.

'Miss the fun times with you Nikki! X,' Tim wrote. In the images, the pair are seen having fun on the beach and posing in front of Uluru

‘Miss the fun times with you Nikki! X,’ Tim wrote. In the images, the pair are seen having fun on the beach and posing in front of Uluru

The Australian Big Brother 10 winner and the Big Brother UK star ‘became friends for life’ after the duo entered the Big Brother Canada house together in 2016 as ‘Wildcard Houseguests’.

Last year after Nikki tragically died, Tim said he was ‘truly broken’ hearing the news. 

‘Our wacky worlds collided in the most unreal of ways when we both entered the Big Brother Canada house together but we became friends for life,’ he said at the time. 

Telling their friendship origin story, Tim said: ‘Backstage before we entered together I still remember you grabbed my hand and you looked into my eyes and said ”please look after me”…and in that moment I knew I meant it when I said ”I will.”

Pals: The Australian Big Brother 10 winner and the Big Brother UK star 'became friends for life' after the duo entered the Big Brother Canada house together in 2016 as 'Wildcard Houseguests'

Pals: The Australian Big Brother 10 winner and the Big Brother UK star ‘became friends for life’ after the duo entered the Big Brother Canada house together in 2016 as ‘Wildcard Houseguests’

‘You were my kindred spirit, beautiful flower, sidekick of mischief, iconic superstar and true friend in hard times for me.’

‘What fun we had together out in the real world, I will never forget the adventures we shared and I hope you know I how much you meant to me. I’m going to miss you so much.’

Reality star Nikki died in April last year at the age of 38 having battled the eating disorder Anorexia since the age of eight.

She died on April 9, just days before her birthday on April 28. 

Nikki had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 10 when she died, with a healthy BMI for a woman considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9.

The TV personality appeared on the seventh series of Big Brother UK in 2006, and despite finishing fifth became one of its most recognisable contestants.

Tragic: Reality star Nikki died in April last year at the age of 38 having battled the eating disorder Anorexia since the age of eight. Nikki had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 10 when she died, with a healthy BMI for a woman considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9

Tragic: Reality star Nikki died in April last year at the age of 38 having battled the eating disorder Anorexia since the age of eight. Nikki had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 10 when she died, with a healthy BMI for a woman considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9

She later spoke publicly about how she developed anorexia while still a child and struggled with the condition throughout her life, spending time in hospital on a number of occasions.

Earlier this month, Nikki’s mother Sue broke down as she recalled the moment she saw her daughter carried away in a body bag after the Big Brother star’s death from anorexia.

During Channel 4 documentary Nikki Grahame: Who Is She?, Sue cried as she said she stroked Nikki’s head from the outside of the body bag as her daughter was carried away. 

Big brother icon: The TV personality appeared on the seventh series of Big Brother UK in 2006, and despite finishing fifth became one of its most recognisable contestants

Big brother icon: The TV personality appeared on the seventh series of Big Brother UK in 2006, and despite finishing fifth became one of its most recognisable contestants

She said: ‘Watching them put my little girl in a bag and taking her down in the lift, and I said to them, “Can you tell me which end her head is?”, and they said, “Yes, up here.”

‘I just stroked it from the outside. They took her away and I didn’t see her again.

‘Part of me has died. I miss her more than I can say.’

Her heartbroken mother said she thought Nikki had a ‘premonition’ about her death as the UK went into lockdown in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

She said the reality star called to tell her how frightened she was to be cut off from the world, telling her: ”Mum, I don’t know how I’m going to get through this.” 

For help and support with eating disorders in the UK, contact SEED on (01482) 718130. In Australia, contact The Butterfly Foundation.

Heartbreaking: Her heartbroken mother said she thought Nikki had a 'premonition' about her death as the UK went into lockdown in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold

Heartbreaking: Her heartbroken mother said she thought Nikki had a ‘premonition’ about her death as the UK went into lockdown in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold

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