BIG Brother favourite Narinder Kaur has opened her heart to tell of her secret sadness at the sudden death of her father.

The bubbly TV star fought back tears as she talked about her father, Mohan, who died last month.

Since his death Narinder, who lives in Leicester, has spent a lot of time with her family in West Moor, North Tyneside, where they run a general store.

"It was a shock, but we're slowly getting over it.

"He hadn't been ill. It was a heart attack. He was only 60."

Former medical rep Narinder comes from a tight-knit family.

They guard their privacy as a family, but Narinder has often spoken with pride about her father and mother, Harbans.

Her father bought the store 23 years ago after moving from the Punjab and the family quickly became part of the community.

Narinder will next be in Newcastle on April 13 for the Rainbow Ball in aid of the Rainbow Trust children's charity. The trust provides respite care for families who have a child with a life threatening or a terminal illness.