In the new Sky documentary "Katie Price: Nothing To Hide," the former glamour model, Katie Price, aims to present a more authentic and complex version of herself to the public. The series, filmed over six months by award-winning director Paddy Wivell, delves into Price's personal life, relationships, and past traumas.
Wivell, known for his work on documentaries such as "Hell Jumper," described the filming process as an intimate exploration of Price's life at her West Sussex home. He noted her "punk spirit" and rebellious nature, contrasting with public perceptions that often focus on her sensationalized private life, which has included numerous romances, surgeries, bankruptcies, and arrests.
"I feel there’s a lot to me that people don’t realise," Price stated in the documentary. "They only judge me by speculative media stories… I want this to be a real, authentic side of me that people have never seen. I want people to see the real me." She believes viewers will see someone who has "been through a lot, made mistakes, learned lessons and kept going."
One particularly emotional moment during filming occurred when Price discussed her first husband, Peter Andre. The conversations became so overwhelming that filming had to be temporarily halted. Wivell observed that Price seemed to have learned to bury the pain from the abrupt end of their relationship. "She told me she’d barely spent five minutes in a room alone with Peter since their split, so to her the conversation hasn’t ended," Wivell said. Andre declined to participate in the documentary, though former partners Gareth Gates, Dane Bowers, and Alex Reid are featured, along with friends and family.
The series revisits Price's past relationships, including a four-month relationship with Gareth Gates in 2002. At the time, Price was pregnant with her eldest son, Harvey. Gates, who was 17 and a virgin, recalled their relationship becoming serious despite attempts to keep it secret. The relationship ended abruptly when photos of Price entering Gates's hotel room were published. Wivell revealed to Gates during filming that a photographer had confirmed Price did not tip off the press, a revelation that brought Gates significant relief.
Price also discusses her relationship with Dane Bowers of the band Another Level, whom she described as the love of her life. Their relationship reportedly ended due to jealousy, with Bowers not wanting other men to see photos of Price, and Price unhappy about his closeness to Victoria Beckham. The final issue arose when Bowers gave Price an ultimatum regarding the release of a racy calendar, which she proceeded to release, leading to their separation.
Finances are another subject explored in the documentary. Despite amassing an estimated £45 million fortune at her career peak, Price is now believed to be worth less than £1 million following two bankruptcies. Wivell noted that Price "doesn’t know where the money’s gone," attributing it to exes, divorces, and poor choices, but added that she is not primarily motivated by money, valuing fame and her career more highly.
The documentary also touches on Price's extensive cosmetic surgeries, estimated at 17 breast surgeries along with multiple facelifts, brow lifts, and nose jobs. Wivell expressed concern over her appearance and her ongoing desire for cosmetic procedures, noting that Price had discussed body dysmorphia with him. "She gets something profound from that process that she’s not willing to give up," Wivell stated.
Price hopes the documentary will encourage viewers to reconsider their perceptions of her. "I hope people think, 'We shouldn’t have given her such a hard time. We misunderstood what she’s really like,'" she said. "I hope they see that I never give up. I hope they’ll understand that there’s a real person behind the headlines, a real family, real emotions, real struggles, real mistakes and real achievements."
"Katie Price: Nothing To Hide" is available on Sky/Now starting Wednesday.