Chanelle Hayes now - new career, 9st weight loss, and fear over her mum's killer

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

Chanelle Hayes became a familiar face on-screen in 2007 when she competed on season eight of the iconic reality series Big Brother.

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, aged just 19, 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. As Celebrity Big Brother 2024 returns to ITV tonight, The Mirror takes a look at what happened to Chanelle after the cameras stopped rolling...

Chanelle Hayes now - new career, 9st weight loss, and fear over her mum's killer qhidqhiquqiqqhinvChanelle's whirlwind romance with fellow housemate Zac Lichman "Ziggy" stole the show (Mark St George / Rex Features)

While some of her fellow contestants 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.

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 Hayes posts tear-soaked selfies as she shares mental health battleChanelle Hayes posts tear-soaked selfies as she shares mental health battle

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 36-year-old mother of two has been busy training to become a fully qualified medic. 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."

Chanelle Hayes now - new career, 9st weight loss, and fear over her mum's killerChanelle 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.

Chanelle Hayes now - new career, 9st weight loss, and fear over her mum's killerShe said she didn't have 'a life' before the procedure

However, she has since 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.

In recent days, it has been reported that Chanelle's mum's killer could be released from prison. Keith Pollard killed Andrea Sinclair when she was aged 32 in 1988, when Chanelle was just five months old. As a baby, she was adopted and brought up in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

After strangling her to death and mutilating her body, Pollard was sentenced to life in prison. Now, it has been reported that his parole hearing has been granted. A source told The Sun that Chanelle fears the killer could 'hoodwink' the board by listing the courses he has done behind bars, while she is reportedly 'terrified' of his potential escape.

Chanelle Hayes shows off bikini body after dramatic 9 stone weight lossChanelle Hayes shows off bikini body after dramatic 9 stone weight loss

Chanelle opened up about her mum's murder in 2016, saying: "[Mum] left me and my sisters with a friend and went out. She got locked in a flat with a man. She got strangled and had bits of her chopped off and he kept her there for days."

Florence Freeman

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