Big Brother winner Ali Bromley has opened up about the moments that almost led her to walk away from the show before she ultimately clinched the public vote.
The reality star also shed light on what she considers an ‘important conversation’ that unfolded following the conclusion of the series.
In a candid chat with Mirror Online, Ali confessed that she hadn’t anticipated the challenges of participating in the popular reality show and admitted she nearly reached her breaking point.
Viewers of ITV witnessed a particularly tense moment when, after a clash with fellow contestant Khaled, Ali declared her intention to leave the competition. Despite the tough times, the 30-year-old persevered through several eliminations and eventually won over the hearts of the nation, securing the 2024 crown and a hefty £90,000 prize.
Reflecting on her journey, she shared: “My partner has shown me a couple of clips of me looking emotional at the beginning when I was thinking about leaving and at the time I wasn’t sure that would be aired, at the time I was pretty sure that it wouldn’t.”
Ali added, “I underestimated how difficult I would find it and how overstimulated I would get. I’m used to being quite cool, calm and collected and quite stoic even.”
“I think the surprise for me was how much I bought into the emotion of the house whether that was positive or negative, I thought I would be a bit more- not removed from it but less phased by it. When you’re there in that environment you just get swept up in the emotion of what’s happening.”
Ali, known for her background as a forensic psychologist, initially wanted to put that part of her aside while still remaining true to herself. She further explained: “I went into the house thinking I wanted to leave psychology Ali a little at the door. To be in there as myself and obviously there’s more to me than just being a psychologist, however, obviously to be a psychologist you go through so many years of training and it’s impossible to switch off that way of thinking.”
“I think for me what I realise on reflection is my kind of thinking analytically about housemate relationships, how people were perceiving me, group dynamics, I think that kicked in as a coping strategy as there were times when I felt a bit lonely, alienated and a bit overwhelmed. I’m realising on reflection that my analysis of the house was my way of coping.”
Ali also commended Big Brother hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best for their handling of some challenging situations during the companion shows Late and Live.
During the final, AJ Odudu took issue with runner-up Marcello’s remarks to Sarah about her pH levels and insinuated she was on her period, telling him: “As a woman, that’s offensive.”
Ali, who hasn’t watched the episode herself yet, mentioned receiving an update from her sister and partner, saying: “I did get a bit of a debrief from my sister and my partner about some of the things that had come out.”
She acknowledged the challenge for Will and AJ in staying neutral and addressing issues among housemates, noting: “Will and AJ have a difficult task with how to remain impartial and what to pick up on with housemates but it sounds like an important conversation that had been had.”
With the show over, Ali is taking time to “rest, decamp and get life back to normal.”
To her supporters from neurodiverse or LGBT communities, Ali sent out an empowering message: “Any advice for people in those communities is you have a right to be proud who you are and a right to talk about who you are and enjoy who you are.”
Big Brother 2024 is available to catch up on ITVX, Celebrity Big Brother will return in 2025 on ITV1