Katona sets the record straight

By Fiona Pryor
Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Kerry Katona: What's the Problem? follows the star as she comes to terms with suffering from bipolar disorder.

"We've got to sell the house and move to a caravan down the road," Kerry Katona says, when asked if it is true that she is bankrupt.

A long pause follows before the 28-year-old bursts into laughter.

"I'm joking. It's not as bad as you think it is - bankruptcy is not such a big deal nowadays."

That is not the only story that the former Atomic Kitten, formerly the wife of pop star Brian McFadden, is keen to clear up.

"I don't do drugs. Of course I have a drink every now and then, but I don't do drugs. I haven't done drugs since 2004," she says.

As for her relationship with former taxi driver Mark Croft, who she recently left for a time, Katona says their marriage is now back on and rock solid.

"We don't row, we have banter - that's just me and Mark," she says. "We'll probably split up again next week."

I just have my highs and my lows and I can go completely off on one and he's done nothing wrong Kerry Katona on her relationship with Mark Croft

Croft was blamed by some of the tabloid press for his famous wife's bankruptcy.

At the same time she announced the end of their marriage Katona called in a financial expert to investigate the claims, but says nothing was found.

"It was a complete misunderstanding. I got talked into it more or less."

The star is about to appear in her latest MTV reality show called Kerry Katona: What's The Problem? where she talks candidly about suffering from bipolar disorder.

The mother of four says it was important to take part as she "wanted to set the record straight".

Ever since her now infamous interview on ITV's This Morning show, Katona has insisted her slurred speech was not because she was intoxicated on air.

Mood swings

"Obviously the medication I was on before was the wrong medication to be on," she says.

"But what really annoyed me when I was on This Morning was how they ignored the illness and my medication and just presumed I was a drunk."

Neither hosts Phillip Schofield or Fern Britton asked her if she had been drinking before appearing on screen, but merely expressed concern for her welfare.

However, Katona remembers the interview slightly differently.

"I thought it was quite ignorant and arrogant really. I have a serious illness.

"They never once asked what type of medication it was, or asked what bipolar is. He [Schofield] was just 'Have you been drinking?' I thought that was quite rude."

Katona has two children with pop star Brian McFadden

Since then, the star has been prescribed different medication and is seeking help from various doctors.

Despite that, her mood swings are in evidence throughout the first episode of her show.

Even Katona admits she can be hard to live with.

"I just have my highs and my lows and I can go completely off on one and Mark's done nothing wrong," she says. "It's my fault the majority of the time."

At one point after an argument, she kicked Croft out and told him not to come back.

When asked what she thinks about the public's perception of her, she says: "I think they might like Mark a lot more and think I'm a cow."

It seems not a week goes by that Katona or her family do not make headlines.

Rekindled friendship

The star, who was named the Queen of the jungle in 2004 when she appeared in ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! thinks most of it is rubbish.

"Well if the newspapers write it then it must be true," she comments, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Come on, it's the papers, we all know what they're like. They show pictures of me coming out of clubs drunk and then say I'm neglecting my kids.

"I let them out of the basement every now and then like," she jokes.

Her relationship with mother Sue has also dominated gossip pages after the pair fell out.

Katona used to be part of pop group Atomic Kitten

Mother and daughter briefly rekindled their relationship during the new series, but Katona says they are no longer speaking again.

During the show she talks about one of several times she found her mother after she had attempted suicide.

"Now do you realise why I'm so loopy? I'm used to it, it's my mum. That's how my mum is," she says.

During the programme Sue attends a family party, where she is seen drinking vodka and arguing with Katona.

"I'm so glad I got her on the show now so everyone can see. She'll be watching it at home calling me all the names under the sun."

She insists she is no longer upset about her mother and is hoping to build a relationship with her father's side of the family.

"I've only met them three times. They could have a been a bunch of weirdos - but they're absolutely lovely," she says.

Despite everything she has been through, it seems Katona has no regrets.

And after her pop career, TV presenting, stint in the jungle and several acting jobs, the star is under no illusion as to how the public perceive her.

"I am a celebrity," she says. "I'm famous for being famous. I'm famous for being a celebrity and just being Kerry."

Kerry Katona: What's The Problem? begins on MTV on Sunday 17 May.