Roxanne Pallett, the actress known for her role as Jo Stiles in Emmerdale, had a thriving career with multiple award nominations. However, her fortunes changed dramatically after her stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
Her time on the reality show turned sour when she accused fellow contestant Ryan Thomas of physically assaulting her, claiming he had punched her.
However, when the show's security footage was reviewed, it became clear that Roxanne's allegations were completely unfounded. The 42 year old had refused to share a bedroom with Ryan, claiming she feared for her safety, but the footage revealed a very different story.
As the truth came to light, the public backlash was immediate and intense, with fans of the show turning on Roxanne. Meanwhile, Ryan, who was unaware of the outrage brewing outside the house, was left isolated and struggling to understand the situation, often breaking down in tears.
It wasn't until eviction night, when the live audience chanted "Get Roxanne out", that he finally grasped the public's true feelings towards him. The controversy surrounding Roxanne resulted in a staggering 25,000 Ofcom complaints and led her to issue a televised apology during a tense interview with Big Brother presenter Emma Willis, where she confessed to making a "terrible mistake.", reports the Mirror.
In the aftermath, Roxanne retreated entirely from the limelight.
Since opting for a quieter life post-scandal, Roxanne has shunned public attention, even going as far as deleting her social media profiles. She married firefighter Jason Carrion, who had a stint on Married At First Sight, in 2020, a year before the couple announced they were expecting their first child.
Roxanne once posted an emotional tribute to her husband, expressing her love and gratefulness: "There's an old saying that difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations. Well, it was worth every broken step that got me here, and I thank God every moment that out of everyone in the whole world, I was led to you.
"You are my safest place and my greatest adventure. Thank you for choosing me. On our wedding day, we celebrated our commitment to one another. A day I'll truly remember as perfect in every way."
In 2021, Roxanne and Jason celebrated the arrival of their first child. Though the couple previously shared moments of their journey on their mutual Instagram account (@lovethecarrions), this account became inactive after 2020, aligning with Roxanne’s continued absence from the public sphere.
Speaking to Closer magazine about her decision to step back from the limelight, she said: "I think taking a step away from showbiz has been the biggest saving grace for me, as it's brought better people into my life and given me a healthier perspective on what's important."
A year after the controversy, Roxanne Pallett opened up on The Jeremy Vine Show in 2019, admitting that she had thought about suicide following the fallout. When Jeremy Vine asked if she had considered taking her own life, she confirmed: "Yes."
Looking back at her time on Big Brother, she expressed regret: "Looking back at those clips, it's awful. It was a really awful time for a lot of people."
She also recognised her journey since then, adding: "It's only now that I watch those back that I realise how far I've come and what a bad place I was in."
She made a commitment to personal change, stating: "I never want to be that person again. I never want to react like that to a situation."
In contrast, Ryan Thomas, who won Celebrity Big Brother, revealed in October 2023 that he had managed to find sympathy for Roxanne despite their past issues.
In a podcast interview, Ryan Thomas shared how his brother, Scott Thomas, helped him view the situation differently. Scott comforted him by saying: "As bad as it was, it was actually the best thing that could have happened to you because it showed off your kind heart, your understanding, your calmness."
Reflecting on this, Ryan confessed: "You can't hide from who you really are in a show like that. It's so weird to say this, but I actually feel sorry for her. When you're in a show like that, and everything's highlighted and it's public, it can be quite a lonely place and a scary place when you're put in that situation. So, we move on."
Ryan also remembered how the experience led him to doubt himself when some of his housemates turned against him. The turning point arrived when he received a letter from Scott, who later expressed how difficult it had been to watch from the outside.
"I'm getting emotional. The maddest thing for us watching was that you were kind of oblivious to what was going on. You were in that house, questioning yourself. I remember when you broke down - it killed me, because the whole nation was on your side and had your back," he said.
Ryan confessed that the true extent of public backing only became apparent during eviction night, remarking: "I just released because I knew it wasn't about me, I knew it was about her. But when you're in there, it's one of the most lonely places that you can ever go to because you don't know these people from day one. You're building relationships with people that you've never really met before."
