Reality TV favourite Nicola McLean shares her love of bingo with her nan, debating on panel shows, and the one thing people will be surprised to learn about her.
WhichBingo hosted our first-ever Celebrity Party at Dabbers Bingo this summer, where we caught up with Nicola who brought honesty, humour, and a dose of nostalgia to the night.
- Big Brother vs The Jungle
- TV Panels and Straight Talking
- Bingo With Nan
- 21 Questions with Nicola McLean
- Ready to Party
Big Brother vS The Jungle
As a veteran of both Celebrity Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Nicola knows what life inside reality TV is really like. When asked which she’d return to, she didn’t hesitate:
“I’d say I’m a Celeb because I’ve done Big Brother three times now, so I think I’d go back into the jungle.”
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While she acknowledged the challenges, she found the jungle easier to handle than the Big Brother house:
“I think Big Brother‘s more psychologically damaging. And I’m a Celebrity, it’s more physically and mentally challenging, as in the trials, getting over them, if you can conquer them. But actually, camp life, I just loved.”
Her secret weapon? A surprising past as an army cadet:
“I used to be an army cadet, so I’m quite used to camping and things like that.”
TV Panels and Straight Talking
These days, Nicola is a regular face on daytime TV and she’s loving it:
“I’ve been doing lots of Vanessa Felt’s show on Channel 5, which I’m really enjoying, and, yeah, just doing panellist stuff and debating. So, yeah, all good.”
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Does she ever get nervous when speaking out on live shows? Not a chance:
“I don’t. You know, I’m not someone that really thinks about what I’m saying and I think that’s why I’ve lasted so long in the industry, because I don’t censor myself, I just say whatever I think. Sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad, but all for the fun.”
Bingo With Nan
It was Nicola’s first time at a WhichBingo live event and she was buzzing:
“It’s my first time being here and I honestly cannot wait.”
When asked about her bingo history, she shared:
“I used to when I was younger, we used to go. My family’s from Scotland and we used to go with my nan and. Yeah. So number one, Kelly’s Eye. That’s it. Yeah.”
Traditional bingo might have been her introduction, but she was fully on board for the Dabbers-style mayhem:
“Well, I’m up for the party.”
21 Questions with Nicola McLean
We also put Nicola through our quickfire 21 Questions, and her answers were just as candid as you’d expect:
1. What’s your go-to breakfast?
Scrambled eggs and avocado.
2. What’s your biggest strength?
I’m funny.
3. What’s your biggest weakness?
I’m too sensitive.
4. What’s one thing people will be surprised to learn about you?
I’m actually nice.
5. What’s the most used app on your phone?
Instagram.
6. What’s your favourite movie of all time?
Oh, goodness. Home Alone.
7. What’s your favourite song of all time?
We Belong Together. Mariah Carey.
8. What’s your go to karaoke song?
Britney Spears. Hit Me Baby One More Time.
9. Do you go for best friend’s advice or gut instinct?
Gut instinct.
10. Are you a dog lover or a cat person?
Dog.
11. What’s one talent you wish you had?
I wish I could sing.
12. If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Be invisible.
13. What’s your biggest fear?
Dying.
14. Are you a spender or a saver?
Neither. I’m not in charge of the money. My husband is.
15. What’s something you collect?
Oh, I used to collect trolls when I was younger. Do you remember those little dolls with the hair? But not anything now.
16. What’s your biggest accomplishment so far?
Apart from my children, because that’s boring. Probably getting “I’m a Celebrity“. Not that my kids are boring!
17. Who do you call first when something big happens?
My husband.
18. What’s something that instantly makes you smile?
My Chihuahua.
19. What’s your pet peeve?
Laziness.
20. Do you believe in ghosts?
Yes.
21. Final question. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
If the roots are strong, it doesn’t matter if the tree waves, still stay with the roots.
Ready to Party
With her trademark honesty and sense of humour, Nicola was ready to dive into the Dabbers fun and of course, finally meet fellow guest David Potts:
“David Potts, definitely… Everyone knows I love Big Brother and he won Celebrity Big Brother, so, yeah, really excited to meet him.”
Between her reality TV legacy, her panellist career, and her straight-talking charm, Nicola McLean was the perfect addition to WhichBingo’s first celebrity party.
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