Trisha Goddard has opened up about how she’s finding the intense experience on Celebrity Big Brother. While many of the celebs are cracking under the pressure, Dancing on Ice alum Trisha said it was a “respite” from the outside world – where she’s facing far more important issues than nominations and shopping orders.
Trisha, 67, has stage four breast cancer, meaning it’s treatable but not curable. She’s currently being treated by a palliative care team, after having a major treatment just before entering the house. Trisha first fought the disease in 2008, but was sadly diagnosed in 2023 for a second time.
Speaking to Angellica Bell in today’s episode, Trisha shared: “I kind of realised – I know the big ‘C’ comes up a lot – here’s a holiday from it. Do you get me? I can just have fun and things like that, and then when I get back out I’m sort of-“
Angellica interrupted: “Back to it? Back to reality, it’s sort of a bubble isn’t it?” Trisha agreed, saying: “It’s a bubble, as I say it’s been my respite – not that I expected it to be, I’m completely surprised by that. It’s been a respite from treatment and stuff.”
Just moments later, amid growing tensions in the house, Trisha jokingly shared that the “bubble” in the house was no match for real life. “I’ve survived worse,” she said.
Trisha has been open about the extra measures put in place by Big Brother and ITV in order for her to be able to live healthily in the house.
The TV star explained that she’s been invited onto the show for years and turned it down, but her daughter encouraged her to finally sign up and live more heartily than ever following her terminal diagnosis.
Speaking to the Mirror just before entering the house, Trisha shared: “So my oncologist is my biggest cheerleader and is working with the Big Brother team. I’ve got a special therapist who’s happy to work with the medic on the show.
“My palliative care team – and when I say that word everybody screams and runs away, but it’s symptom treatment – is working with the team here too.
She added: “And then when it comes to my treatment, I had one infusion on Monday, so I’ve got to jump on a plane and go straight back to have the next one as soon as the show is over.”
Trisha explained that everything was set up so that she could get stuck in as much as possible, sharing: “I’ve got a bag full of meds that I normally have which will be with me in the house. So my oncologist has planned my treatment around the production schedule.”
The star summarised to hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best before walking through the door to CBB: “It’s my new normal. I’m going into the Big Brother house to show you can’t be so scared of dying that you become frightened of living.”
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