, famous for her on-again-off-again role as trumpet-tooting teen mum Sonia Fowler in , has spoken about the primary motivation that led her to participate in Celebrity in 2012. As she discussed the idea of developing her podcast, , into a profitable live show, she reflected on her reality TV past, confessing: "I was in dire straits financially, having a really bad time, and I did Big Brother." The "life-changing amount" of money on offer was significant enough for Natalie to briefly leave her then nine-month-old daughter Eliza, with the actress admitting: "I went in there, genuinely, for the money to get out again, quick as I can.
" She says she was delighted when she heard she was being evicted early, because it meant reuniting with Eliza. She does feel, however, that she brought a positive energy to the Big Brother house: "I went in there, and I just cooked, cleaned, did the tasks, had a bit of a laugh, came home." "I wasn't in there for very long," Natalie laughed, "It was brilliant.
I got out early I think because I was a bit boring", reports . Frankly, her "boring" demeanour appeared to be exactly what the eclectic group of celebrities needed, according to the soap star: "I went in, came out again, I left, pandemonium started. Nicola McLean and Denise Welch were at each other arguing.
I was kind of the peacemaker." While she's reticent to disclose the exact sum she earned during her 16-day run in the house, she says the windfall was substantial enough to cover a hefty tax.