FORMER Big Brother star Nichola Holt has defended under-fire Jade Goody, claiming selective editing by TV producers is to blame for her negative portrayal.

Jade has been shown on Channel 4 having numerous rows with housemates and dropping uneducated clangers such as believing "East Angular" is a country and that Portugal is in Spain.

But Bolton lass Nichola, who was a member of the first group of Big Brother householders, said the same process made her out to be a "mouthy Northerner".

She said: "Producers will pick up on a character trait and then play on it throughout the whole series. Jade has been labelled Britain's most hated woman by some tabloid newspapers and has been condemned as being poorly educated and "emotionally fragile".

She has become known as "The Pig" and was slated for stripping naked in front of fellow housemates during a drinking game.

But Nichola believes Jade will be able to cash in on her new-found fame when she walks out of the Big Brother house.

Nichola said: "Coming out of the house for me was mad. People would offer me £4,000 for a ten-minute personal appearance."

Since leaving the house, Nichola has raised thousands of pounds for charity.

The former Turton School pupil is currently forging a career in fashion and is putting on charity club nights in London.

She appeared at a recent fashion show but has shunned a career in television after becoming disillusioned with the industry.

A spokesman for Channel 4 said: "The highlights show is edited but we don't pick up on character traits.

"Anyone who wants to see the unedited version of the show can view it on E4 and make up their own mind."

The favourite to win this year's Big Brother is 22-year-old fitness fanatic Kate Lawler. The winner, who will pick up the £70,000 first prize, is announced on Friday.