Katie Price On Harvey Going To College And The ‘Big Void’ In Her Life

Katie Price may have started her career as one of the nation’s best known glamour models, but recent years have seen her eldest son Harvey steal the limelight.

The second series of BBC One documentary Katie Price: What Harvey Did Next delves further into life behind close doors, exposing the ups and downs of day-to-day life with an autistic child.

Ahead of the new series hitting our screens this March, the former Jordan, 43, shared her thoughts on the next chapter in Harvey’s life.

What made you want to do a second series?

“Well, when I watched the first one, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, it just stopped!’ And you feel like you want to know what’s happening next.

"The BBC obviously thought that as well, because they came to me and said, ‘look, shall we do another one?’ And I thought, why not?!”

What can we expect this time around? 

“Now Harvey’s at college, it’s like, ‘right, we want to see what he’s gonna learn.

"This (series) is showing the challenges and why it’s important to find the right college for him to cater for his challenging needs.

"I’ve had to live and breathe it, I’ve had my house smashed up all the time. Now people can see why it was difficult to find the right college because of the way he is.”

Katie Price and son Harvey (BBC/Minnow Films/Richard Ansett)

Was it important to show more of Harvey’s day-to-day life this time around?

“I think with the first one, I didn’t really show him kicking off and how difficult normal things can be for him.

"They touched on it, but not too much. I think in this one, I didn’t mind them showing how more difficult he can be."

Did you find it difficult to hand the responsibility of looking after Harvey to someone else?

“It was difficult, but a relief. Like, I left him last night. And he didn’t want me to go. He started kicking off and I automatically thought ‘I can’t leave him like that.

"I had to go back and calm him down for my own sanity, because I didn’t want to get in the car knowing he’s kicked off. ”

(Ian West PA)

How has life changed now Harvey’s gone to college?

“For me, there’s a big void in my life, because I’m used to the background [noise], him banging the walls — you get tuned into that noise.

"Now, if I hear a door slam, I’m waiting to hear the repercussions… But you do miss it as well. It’s weird.”

The first day of college and saying goodbye must have been quite an emotional experience for both of you?

"We didn’t just suddenly say ‘right, you’re going to college now’ overnight. It’s something we’ve had to process for months, showing pictures and getting used to the names of people."

 

 

 

 

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Has he settled in well?

“When they started telling me ‘Oh, yeah, he threw a table across the room’ or ‘he broke the lights in his room’ or ‘he’s gone for the windows’, I’m like, ‘sorry guys, but I have to say I’m quite happy to hear that’.

"He knows what he’s doing, so to hear he’s starting to break things and will be challenging (makes me) know he’s at home.”

What do you hope viewers take from this?

“As a mum, (I) have to still stick to what’s right for him.

"(The series shows) that all lives can be challenging, but (a person in this situation) can't neglect the fact (they've) got to do this properly.”

Katie Price: What Harvey Did Next starts on BBC One on March 7.