BOLTON'S Helen Wood is the winner of TV reality show Big Brother 2014.

The Bolton beautician was bidding for the public's votes tonight on Channel Five.

She was booed by some viewers as she was announced as the winner.

Helen said: "I was shocked. Ashleigh was the real winner."

Helen was described tonight by presenter Emma Willis as one of the most controversial contestants in the history of the show.

Helen said: "I was completely over the top and out of order at times.

"People probe me constantly and sometimes I take it too far. I am quite embarrassed by that.

"I had to change. I never thought in a million years I could win.

"I was warned about my behaviour but I knew I couldn't carry on behaving the way I was behaving."

The Bolton lass said she would change her behaviour in future.

She said: "I have to learn to bite my tongue."

Asked about her relationship with fellow housemate Ash, she said: "I like him as my best friend. He's gorgeous but he's just a really good friend."

Helen was in the final two with fellow contestant Ashleigh.

Christopher was third in the public vote.

Ashleigh and Helen came to blows many times over the last few weeks.

Speaking about Helen, Ashleigh said: "The few things that made us clash were very similar.

"I'm over the moon for Helen. I'm really glad we sorted out our differences in the end.

"I know me and Helen will get on fine in the outside world."

Last week, Helen's Bolton friends said they hoped the experience would boost her confidence.

The trio of close pals — Michelle Morton, Bekii Edge and Beth Crompton who also work at Helen’s salon Dolly’s in Chorley Old Road — said they were over the moon for Helen.

Mother-of-two Michelle, aged 27, who lives in Heaton, has been friends with Miss Wood since they met at Thornleigh School at the age of 12.

Miss Morton, who attended the final last night, said: “We are very proud of Helen. We knew she would win so it wasn’t a shock — we voted for her enough times!

“But yes, we believed in her all the way through.

“To have won means the absolute world to Helen. She wasn’t expecting it all. I was with her last night and we’ve not slept at all. We’ve just been celebrating all night.”

The 27-year-old was seen clashing with some fellow housemates in the early weeks of the show.

Miss Morton added: “She has got a lot to look at. At the moment she is still in her Big Brother bubble. I think she’ll learn a lot from it.”

Miss Wood, from Bromley Cross, fell pregnant at the age of 16 with her son, now aged 10.

In 2009, she hit the headlines due to an alleged sex scandal involving another Bolton woman, Jenny Thompson, and Manchester United footballer Wayne Rooney.

Before the final last night, Miss Morton said: "Helen went on Big Brother because she wanted to show people a different side to her, not just what they have read in the papers.

"She wanted to show a bit more of her personality and get rid of the stigma."