Tuesday, 19 June 2007

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Chanelle's parents: We're worried about our daughter

Exclusive: BB star Chanelle Hayes' adoptive mum and dad talk about their fears

How have you coped with seeing Chanelle snogging Ziggy live on telly?

Christine, 49: I did cringe. The noise! [Laughs] I hope it stops there with just a kiss. But I did like the dinner dates they had.

Have you been shocked by some tabloid reports?

Harry, 55: We were at the petrol station the other day and we saw this newspaper front page with the headline: ‘Chanelle has lesbo romp with Shabnam’. I couldn’t believe it. But we’ve reached a peak now where nothing will shock us because we know it’s all been exaggerated.

How do you feel about her exes selling their bedroom stories?

Harry: No parents of a 19-year-old can know everything that goes on in their child’s love life. It’s strange that we’re the exception! A lot of the stuff’s made up beyond belief, but there’s nothing we can do about it.

You adopted Chanelle when she was 9 months old?

Harry: Yes, we were told all about her mum, which didn’t make a difference. Then we saw a picture and we were chomping at the bit. She was just, well, perfect.

It’s such a special thing. Chanelle and [her 15-year-old brother] David have given us a family.

Her biological mother’s murderer is due for release soon. How do you feel about that?

Christine: Chanelle doesn’t know and we’re worried. She’ll get the biggest shock when she reads about how brutal the murder was. She only knows that her mum was strangled.

Harry: That’ll be a big issue for her. I read recently that this guy could be watching her on the TV. How sad and sick if that’s true.

Justine Harkness