Roxanne Pallett 'grateful for all that went wrong' over controversial 'Celebrity Big Brother' stint

·Contributor

Updated 3 March 2020 at 6:22 am·2-min read

Roxanne Pallett is "grateful" for what happened in the aftermath of her punching claims. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) — Roxanne Pallett is "grateful" for what happened in the aftermath of her punching claims (PA via Getty)

Roxanne Pallett has reflected on how she's "grateful" for her Celebrity Big Brother scandal as it allowed her to "reboot" her life and said her experiences allow her to empathise with Meghan Markle.

The soap actor's appearance on the Channel 5 programme in 2018 caused a great deal of controversy after she accused fellow housemate Ryan Thomas of "deliberately" punching her with force, with footage revealing otherwise.

The former Emmerdale star also compared herself with the Duchess of Sussex and her experiences with the press following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's move to Canada.

Pallet explained she felt "hounded" in England which led her to leave for the US to split her time between the two nations.

“For a long time, I felt exiled and was being told to disappear by online bullies,” she shared. “In a way, I can understand why Meghan left. I'm so happy she's had the inner strength to say, ‘I'm not happy here, let's make a change.’

Presenter Emma Willis as Roxanne Pallett is shown on the big screen during the live final of Celebrity Big Brother at Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) — Presenter Emma Willis as Roxanne Pallett is shown on the big screen during the live final of Celebrity Big Brother (PA via Getty)

Pallett's comments come as she had recently wed her US firefighter husband Jason Carrion after leaving the UK to travel the US for a year following the uproar stemming from her stint on the reality show.

She told Closer magazine: "I never thought I'd be smiling again. I've met the love of my life and I feel mentally stronger. I truly believe all the negativity I went through pushed me to this point.

"In a way, I'm grateful for all that went wrong, even though it was brutal. It was worth all the heartache because now I'm living my best life."

Actress Roxanne Pallett poses for photographers upon arrival to the British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Sunday, May 14, 2017. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP) — Actress Roxanne Pallett at the Baftas in 2017 (Invision/AP)

The 37-year-old voluntarily left the house on day 17 with an interview with host Emma Willis, minus an audience, coming a few days later in which Pallett apologised for her actions.

The moment made Celebrity Big Brother the most complained about TV show for 2018 as well as the decade, with over 25,000 complaints made to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom.

She married Carrion in a New York wedding back in January after six months of dating. Pallett has said her husband "knows everything" about her past and that she encouraged him to read about her online for himself.