Celebs On The Farm WINNER Kerry Katona says people ‘pre-judge’ her

Kerry Katona was crowned the winner of Celebs On The Farm on Friday night as she spoke about how proud she is for ‘turning her life around’.

The former Atomic Kitten star, 40, took home the trophy which saw a collection of stars swap red carpet glam for milking cows.  

Talking about being crowned the champion in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Kerry admitted that winning the show wasn’t something that even ‘crossed her mind in the slightest’.

The mother-of-five said that it was an ‘achievement’ fans got to see the ‘real’ side to her as people tend to ‘pre-judge’ her as a ‘crazy, party animal’.

Kerry, who is engaged to Ryan Mahoney, also revealed that she now hopes to move her family to a farm in the future as the programme helped with her bipolar and mental health.

Talking exclusively to MailOnline, the TV personality said: ‘I had no intentions of thinking, “I’m going to win this”.

‘For me, every time I get asked to do a reality show… I always think, “Wow, how blessed and lucky am I to get to be a part of a great adventure and do things that you know you wouldn’t normally go off and do?”

‘I’d probably have never gone off, and you know, gone and lived on a farm for two weeks!’

She added: ‘Winning was never something that crossed my mind in the slightest, I was just grateful to be there really and experience it all. 

‘I’m really honoured and flattered, that farmer Chris saw that in me and saw the changes. It was lovely, really really nice.’

She added: ‘Celebs on the Farm has been one of the best experiences ever! I’ve learned so much about farming and had a laugh too! 

‘It’s been one of the best reality shows I’ve ever taken part in. I’m so honoured to be crowned Supreme Champion Farmer.’  

Kerry added that she loved her fellow contestants, which included old friend Duncan James, who she has known for 20 years, and that she was touched over Montana Brown’s kind words about her.

The mother-of-five admitted that people tend to ‘pre-judge’ her and that she was glad viewers got to see a different side to her.

She said: ‘Watching the show back, when Montana got voted off, the things that she said about me were so lovely. That really took me by surprise.

‘I think a lot of people do pre-judge me and then for them to say, “Who surprised you?” Montana said, “Kerry has really surprised me, I didn’t think she would be the way she was. She really looked after me, she’s been like a mother figure.”

‘So that for me is almost a sense of achievement, I know so many people think I’m this crazy, party animal, you’re lucky if you’ll get me past 11 o’clock, love! 

‘Honestly, for them to see that I’m not like that, that for me what really nice what she said, all of them are friends.’

Kerry hilariously added: ‘When you do these reality shows, you usually always have one k***head or that one t**t, who you think, “Oh my God, I can’t wait for them to p**s off”. Maybe they thought that about me? But everyone was really nice!’ 

The singer also noted that the show has been a ‘massive turning point’ and that she hopes viewers can take away something from what she has been through in her life.

Kerry, who has previously revealed she started taking drugs aged 14, has openly spoke about her bipolar disorder and addiction issues in the past.  She checked herself into rehab in 2008 and 2010. 

The singer’s troubled times are now behind her and she said: ‘It’s been a massive turning point. 

‘I think doing Celebs On The Farm has been a big turning point for me as well. To still be in this industry after 22 years and still be offered to do shows. I feel really honoured. 

‘It’s a testament to myself and I give myself a pat on the back. I’ve actually turned my life around and things like that. 

‘I feel really lucky and really blessed that I hope people can take something away from what I’ve been through and what I’ve done. You can get through it all really.’ 

Talking about her experience and what lessons she will take with her into the future from the show, the reality star said she hopes to move to a farm in the future.

She said on relocating: ‘Yeah, 100%, I am still looking into that, I would love nothing more than to pick up my family and the kids and move onto a farm. 

‘I think it would do the kids a world of good, I think it would do me the world of good. Kids these days, all they b***y do are on their iPhones and iPads and laptops and their X boxes and their PlayStations. I’m lucky if I get a look in with them.’

Kerry is a mother to Molly, 19, Lilly-Sue, 18, with ex-husband Brian McFadden, Heidi, 13, Maxwell, 12, with ex Mark Croft, 49, and Dylan-Jorge, six, whose father George Kay tragically passed away in 2019.

She added: ‘I’d love to move into a farm, I’d love my kids to experience what I experienced in there. It’s very much needed today, actually, for children to experience that outdoors life. They’re all stuck indoors at the minute.

‘I would love it, I wouldn’t love to live in a working farm, I’d love to have just two calves, two sheep, two goats.’  

Kerry added: ‘I have bipolar and the whole time I was there being outside with the animals, I didn’t have one down day. I really, really enjoyed it.

‘It was just so simplistic and simple. No internet, no dramas, no this, it was just simple and I really, really enjoyed that. I think because I’ve just had such a crazy life, the simplicity of it all was just really nice.’    

She continued: ‘I’ve also realised how therapeutic animals are. I absolutely adore the calves, the calves are just so lovely and mischievous.’

Although having a positive experience on the show, Kerry admitted that sometimes watching herself back makes her ‘cringe’.

She confessed: ‘When I watch myself back, I don’t half cringe sometimes, “Oh my God, Kerry!” 

‘I think I’m dead funny at the time, because I think I’m dead quick witted, then I listen to some of my jokes… and I think, “Urgh, Kerry! You’re a k***head!” But I won, so I must be doing something right!’

Kerry said that she treated the experience like a ‘holiday’: ‘I feel really lucky and blessed being able to work. Going away to do the farm for two weeks, it was like a bleedin’ holiday. I couldn’t wait to get out the house and away from the kids, I’m not going to lie!’   

Kerry joined joined Love Island’s Montana Brown, Holly Hagan, ex-EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson, 55, Hollyoaks’ Malique Thompson-Dwyer, 22, Loose Women’s Linda Robson, 62, and sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 32, on the line-up.

The cast also included Blue singer Duncan James, 42, drag queen Cheryl Hole, 27, and socialite Lady Colin Campbell, 71, filmed at a real farm in the Yorkshire Dales, as they swapped red carpet glam for milking cows. 

Filmed last year, strict coronavirus protocols and industry guidelines were adhered to throughout the production of Celebs on the Farm. 

The usually glamorous cast were tasked with early starts, animal handling and manual work that all come with the territory of farming life.

Farmer Chris eliminated the celebs based on their performance in and out of the paddocks, eventually leaving just one top dog Supreme Champion Farmer.

Catch up on Celebs on The Farm on MTV Play.