Katie Price is sharing some of the most challenging experiences of her life in a new, highly personal documentary series. The former glamour model, 48, has stated she has “nothing to hide,” and the initial episodes of the Sky docuseries offer a candid look at significant events, including a past romance with Gareth Gates, her experiences with childhood sexual abuse, and the end of her relationship with Dane Bowers. The series promises an in-depth portrait of the enduring British celebrity, featuring previously unseen footage and firsthand accounts.
Gareth Gates Recounts ‘Betrayal’ Over Romance with Katie Price
Gareth Gates, who rose to fame as a teenage pop star, has spoken for the first time about his brief 2002 relationship with Katie Price. At the time, Gates was 17 and Price was pregnant with her eldest son, Harvey. Gates shared that Price was his first sexual experience, but the relationship became fraught when he publicly denied it, deeply upsetting Price.
Price expressed surprise that Gates agreed to participate in the documentary. Director Paddy Wivell noted that securing his involvement required extensive negotiation. In the series, Gates described Price as “amazing” and different from his initial perception of her as a glamour model. He sensed “vulnerability” in her, similar to himself, and found her to be “kind, very loving.” He recalled their time together as “two smitten teenagers” and admitted to experiencing feelings of love for the first time, though he felt he was “too young” to fully understand it.
Gates revealed that his management warned him that confirming the relationship would be “career-ending,” viewing it as a conflict between the public persona of “Jordan” (Price’s former glamour model name) and his own young, innocent image. The situation intensified when, after Price gave birth to Harvey, Gates again denied their relationship when they encountered each other at an awards ceremony.
Price recounted her fury at being branded a “liar” and a “nutcase” following Gates’ denial. She felt “left in the lurch” and hurt by the “pure lies.” Her response was to give a tell-all interview detailing their romance, which Gates described as a “betrayal” that “impacted me hugely.” He struggled to forgive himself for denying the relationship to close friends and family.
When asked if she had “humiliated” Gates, Price acknowledged that her detailed interview likely affected him. She expressed regret over the specifics she shared, stating, “If I could turn back time I wish I never took his virginity for his sake.” She added that she wished he could have saved that experience for someone with whom he could have built a relationship.
Katie Price Details Childhood Sexual Abuse
In the documentary’s opening episode, Price recounts a deeply traumatic experience of sexual abuse when she was seven years old. While looking at childhood photographs, she vividly remembers a sunny day when she and two other children were approached by a man while walking through a shortcut to a park. She recalls the man’s advances and his desire for them to engage in sexual acts, remembering his face and the feelings associated with the event.
The incident was interrupted when another boy and girl walked by, prompting the arrival of the police. Price remembers the police questioning her and taking her underwear as evidence, recalling the event with clarity.
Overdose Following Dane Bowers Breakup
The documentary also revisits Katie Price’s highly publicized relationship with Dane Bowers, formerly of the group Another Level, whom she once called “the love of my life.” The series explores the devastation Price felt when Bowers ended their relationship, reportedly over her decision to pose for a nude calendar.
Price admits in the series that she took an overdose of pills during her heartbreak. “I just remember being on my own, devastated, and I took a whole load of pills,” she stated. Bowers described the experience of rushing her to the hospital as “not a nice feeling,” expressing concern for her well-being. Upon arriving at the hospital, he saw Price with his picture on her chest, which he found jarring given the circumstances.
He admitted to mixed feelings, including frustration at the situation he felt Price had “forced,” but also care and concern for her. Price later clarified her actions, stating it was an attempt to gain “attention” rather than a genuine desire to end her life. “Did I really want to kill myself? No. But I just wanted him to want me and I thought doing that, he’d know how much I love him and I’d get him back,” she explained, noting that it ultimately did not change his mind.
Experience at the Playboy Mansion
Price also shares her experience visiting the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles in 2001, following a photoshoot for Playboy magazine. She was invited by founder Hugh Hefner, and while he expressed interest in her becoming one of his girlfriends, Price declined, stating she “didn’t want to have sex with him” and felt it would be akin to “having sex with my granddad.”
She described the atmosphere at the mansion as surreal, with women in bikinis by the pool and Hefner playing cards in his dressing gown. Price detailed the routines, which included communal bathing and gatherings in Hefner’s bedroom, where pornography was shown on a large screen. While some women were naked, Price wore her underwear. She observed sexual activity between women and described a brief personal experiment, but was ultimately put off by seeing Hefner naked, noting his penis appeared “so young.” These activities were reportedly scheduled for specific days, with movie nights on Sundays.
Clashes with Mother Over Son Harvey
The documentary touches upon Katie Price’s role as a single mother to her son Harvey, who has multiple complex health conditions including Prader-Willi syndrome, autism, and septo-optic dysplasia. Price returned to work just 10 days after Harvey’s birth, with her mother, Amy, assisting with childcare during photo shoots.
A point of contention arose when Price decided to pose for a photo shoot that included Harvey. She and her mother, Amy, have had ongoing debates about this. Price argued that if pictures of Harvey were going to be taken and sold by others, she might as well profit from them herself by producing “nice pictures.”
Amy Price expressed her disapproval, believing that making money from a “vulnerable child” like Harvey should not be done and that his image should have been kept private. She couldn’t understand the logic behind publicizing him in that way. Katie, however, countered that she has been in the public eye and monetizing her life since she was 17, and saw no reason to hide her son simply because he has visual impairments. She stated, “I’m proud that I’ve got my son.”
Conclusion
Katie Price’s latest documentary series delves into deeply personal and often painful aspects of her life, offering viewers an unfiltered look at her past traumas and relationships. From the complexities of early romances and public scrutiny to profound personal violations and family disagreements, the series aims to provide a comprehensive and revealing portrait of her journey.
