Pete Bennett, the winner of Big Brother 7 in 2006, has opened up about the tragic events that prompted him to apply for the reality show. In a recent interview, Bennett revealed that the sudden death of his close friend Jules, who died on a railway line in front of him, was a major catalyst. He suffered from PTSD for years afterwards.
Bennett also spoke about his difficult childhood, being raised by a single mother who worked at a McDonald's in France to pay off their mortgage. He recalled being bullied at school and attacked in the street, which made him a recluse. 'I went into Big Brother to raise awareness of Tourette's and to be a hero for kids who have Tourette's,' he said.
The 14th anniversary of his win has been marked by E4's 'Big Brother: Best Shows Ever' series. Bennett believes he would not get on a modern reality show like Love Island, which he says picks 'the same sort of people with big muscles and fake tan'. He remains in touch with former housemates Richard Newman, Glyn Wise and Lea Walker, but has lost contact with Nikki Grahame.
