Katona faces fans at Oxford Union

MTV filmed the session as part of Kerry Katona's new reality TV show

Reality TV star Kerry Katona has spoken about fame and her daily battle with mental illness in a question and answer session at the Oxford Union.

The 28-year-old revealed she was nervous, but told the 100-strong audience they could ask her anything during the debating society session.

History student Henry Evans said: "There were far fewer people than the usual turnout for speeches."

Student Jeff Rawson, 19, said she was "relaxed and the talk was humorous".

'Frank and open'

More than 250 people had been expected to attend the talk, which was closed to members of the media, but audience members said the venue was half empty.

The former Atomic Kitten singer arrived with an MTV film crew and was shielded by her entourage as she entered the building.

The event was recorded as part of her reality TV show.

Speeches usually last up to two hours, but the mother-of-four spoke for about an hour.

Anshul Bakhda, 19, from Hertfordshire, said: "I thought she was really good. She was very frank and open.

"It was a really refreshing question and answer session, as there was nothing she wouldn't talk about.

"She talked about her history with mental illness, her mum, and the impact of the media on her family.

"She said she was nervous, but if she was, she hid it really well. Kerry went down well with the audience, and seemed a fairly genuine person."

However, student Rachel McCombie wrote on micro-blogging service Twitter that she had only attended out of "sheer morbid curiosity".

In a later post she said: "Words I'd use to describe her: vulnerable masked by self-assuredness, screwed up, warm and friendly Northerner, vulgar, airhead, vain."

She added: "My opinion of her has improved slightly."