Big Brother's Chanelle Hayes now - footballer ex, medic job, and 9st weight loss

20 October 2023 , 18:00

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Chanelle Hayes was best known for her time on season eight of the Big Brother show in 2007 (Image: FilmMagic)

Chanelle Hayes became a household name back in 2007 when she competed on season eight of the iconic reality series Big Brother at the young age of 19. With its many twists and turns, the show introduced an all-female cast on day one, followed by the first male housemate two days later, and lasted a record-breaking 94 days.

Chanelle was once one of the most talked-about reality stars on television. Her whirlwind romance with fellow housemate Zac Lichman "Ziggy" stole the show and captivated audiences across the country. But what happened to the iconic reality star after the cameras stopped rolling?

While some of her fellow contestants have continued to make headlines, Chanelle has kept a relatively low profile since leaving the famous house. Many viewers remember Chanelle and Ziggy's steamy shower scene on the show, as well as their tumultuous relationship that continued even after they left the house.

Chanelle's whirlwind romance with fellow housemate Zac Lichman "Ziggy" stole the show (Mark St George / Rex Features)

But their romance ultimately came to an end after just six months together. Despite the breakup, Chanelle and Ziggy remain close friends. In fact, Ziggy is the only housemate she still speaks to, as she revealed on a 2018 episode of Loose Women. The pair have even expressed their belief that they were truly in love with each other.

Chanelle has since moved on and is now a mother to two sons, Blakely, nine, with Middlesbrough footballer Matthew Bates, and two-year-old son Frankie with ex-boyfriend Ryan Oates. She has even traded in her reality TV fame for a more fulfilling career in the healthcare industry. The 35-year-old mother of two has been busy training to become a fully qualified medic by 2024. In a recent interview, Chanelle gave fans an update on her progress, saying: "I'm on placement now for three months at a hospital - I'm really enjoying it."

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Chanelle has been busy training to become a fully qualified medic by 2024 (chanellejhayes/Instagram)

She explained that she needed to do something worthwhile and use her brain and that when her children started school, she saw it as the perfect opportunity to pursue a degree. Chanelle's dedication to her studies is evident, and she has expressed a desire to leave fame behind and focus on her future career. She told The Sun: "I have plans to quit fame," and that her ultimate goal is to work in the emergency department.

But it's not just Chanelle's career that has undergone a transformation. She has also changed her appearance, trading in her short blonde bob for long brunette locks. The former reality star has also opened up about the struggles she faced with binge eating during the first lockdown in 2020. Chanelle has been candid about the toll it took on her body, admitting that her weight had spiralled out of control.

She said she didn't have 'a life' before the procedure

However, she has since undergone a miraculous transformation and lost nine stone after undergoing a gastric sleeve operation in the summer of 2020. Speaking about her weight gain, she said: "It was horrendous. I didn't want to see or speak to anyone. I didn't even want to leave the house or go anywhere - I was like a hermit in my home."

The Big Brother star added that the ordeal left her feeling isolated and alone, saying: "I didn't speak to anyone for a year. I literally saw nobody, so I definitely didn't have a love life. I didn't even have a life. I just couldn't bear to do anything."

Despite the challenging journey, Chanelle's hard work and determination paid off, and she is now looking and feeling better than ever. Fans have been quick to praise the reality star for her bravery and honesty, with many taking to social media to share their support and admiration.

Florence Freeman