Despite being booted out of the Big Brother house in arguably this year's most tense eviction, former contestant Vanessa was on fine form as she chatted to fans.

The 19-year-old, from West Croydon, appeared at the Carphone Warehouse in the Whitgift Centre last Thursday to publicise the reality TV show's sponsor, Talk Talk.

Despite accusations of being boring on the show, the business studies student chatted away to reporters and fans who had come to meet her.

Critics of the Brunel University under-graduate had accused her of spending much of her time in the house talking about her fellow housemates behind their backs, but on one of her first public appearances since her eviction it seems Vanessa was unwilling to say anything bad about the remaining contestants.

Instead she explained how she was getting back to reality after spending seven weeks in front of the cameras.

"It was a really scary experience when I first got out," she said.

"Being back in Croydon is really helping me get my feet back on the ground. It was really weird being in one house all the time. When I first got in a car after being in the house it was a really strange feeling to be moving."

Explaining what presenter Davina McCall had whispered in her ear on eviction night Vanessa said: "She said: "Everything's going to be ok, don't worry. This crowd is just a small representation of the UK, don't worry."

Talking about her eviction on July 15, when housemates were forced to choose between her and Zimbabwean cardiac nurse Makosi after they got the most public votes, she said: "I'm feeling a lot better about it now. I always knew that if I was up against Makosi I would be out because she was such a popular character in the house.

"At first it did make me feel really unpopular. But then I found out that I got about half the public votes she did."

Making a guess at who would be evicted next between loud-mouthed Science and Belfast's Orlaith Vanessa said she suspected it would be the Irish model who would get the boot. Actually, it was Leeds rapper Science who went in the tightest vote ever.

Since leaving the house Vanessa says she has been catching up with the news and making appearances on Big Brother's sister programme, Big Brother's Little Brother (BBLB) with presenter Dermot O'Leary.

After refusing to take part in Big Brother's workhouse challenge in week three because she didn't want to have to touch maggots she revealed the show finally got its own back on her.

"I had to put my hand in a box of maggots on BBLB. I didn't know what they were. It was disgusting, but I'm glad I got to conquer my fear. I'd never have done it if I'd known."

Steve Chambers, from Thornton Heath, brought his 13-year-old stepdaughter Jade Morrei along to meet Vanessa.

She said: "I'm very excited about meeting Vanessa. I'm going to tell everyone when I get back to school."