A 'DEVASTATED' reality TV star is in mourning after her former partner was found dead.

Jessica Cunningham, who was a contestant in 'Celebrity Big Brother' this January and appeared last year in 'The Apprentice', had three children with Alistair Eccles.

Mr Eccles, 35, was found at an address in Underley Street, Burnley, on Friday. His death, which is not being treated as suspicious, was confirmed yesterday by police.

Ms Cunningham, a former student in Blackburn, and Mr Eccles split up in 2013 but had remained close for the sake of their girls.

A representative for 30-year-old Ms Cunningham, who is now an entrepreneur, said in a statement: "Despite their break-up, Alistair was a really good father to their children.

"Jessica is politely asking for some privacy at this devastating time so that she can protect their three girls."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We were called shortly before 3am on August 11 following a report that a 35-year-old man had been taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after he had been found at an address on Underley Street, Burnley.

"He was sadly pronounced deceased at hospital. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to the coroner."

Ms Cunningham, who was born in Dronfield, Derbyshire but raised in Burnley, owns Prodigal Fox, an online fashion company, and is operations director for a PR and marketing agency.

In 2013 Mr Eccles was given a 15-month suspended sentence at Preston Crown Court after admitting money laundering.

Ms Cunningham, who has lived in Burnley and Colne, is thought to have ended the relationship after Mr Eccles was convicted.

Previously he had help run her first fashion business, Famous Frocks, which went out of business in 2015.

Ms Cunningham is a former pupil of the private independent Westholme School in Blackburn and also attended St Wilfrid's Church of England Academy, a state school, also in Blackburn. Her parents ran a second-hand store in Burnley.

Last month the Lancashire Telegraph reported that Ms Cunningham had been hired to design a vibrant summer fashion range.

She was commissioned to to create 12 pieces for occasion-wear brand Little Black Dress.

The exclusive commissioning for Little Black Dress was backed by shareholder and TV personality Alesha Dixon.

In 2015 she and her sister, Emma Deeks, were thrust into the spotlight when their designs featured in a BBC football documentary 'The Class of '92'.

They were busy sorting the clothes out for a fashion shoot for their Prodigal Fox brand when a crew from the BBC turned up to film their Padiham-born model Gareth Seddon. The sisters did not know Mr Seddon was then also a striker for Salford City.

In 2010, Ms Cunningham, then 23, set up a video marketing company, Vidotise, based at Empire Business Centre, Liverpool Road, Burnley.

She became a household name as a contestant in the 12th series of 'The Apprentice' in October 2016. She was knocked out of the competition in the interview round.

She was ejected from the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house after two weeks.