[Amy]

THE beloved mum of BB favourite Liam needs round-the-clock care in her battle against crippling Muscular Sclerosis, the News of the World can reveal.

Tragic Christine McGough is wheelchair bound and is often confined to bed for days because of her muscle-wasting condition.

The 58-year-old mother has even had to quit her one pleasure of smoking because she no longer has the strength to hold a cigarette.

And devoted son Liam, 23, plays a FULL part in the 24/7 operation to care for her.

Liam's father Joseph, a retired nurse, told us: "He's always been there for her and he always will. He is the apple of her eye."

Bond

Big Brother fans tuning in on Tuesday night saw Liam receive an emotional message from home in a news bulletin delivered by housemates Gerry and Ziggy.

The hunky tree surgeon CRIED into a cushion as he was told that his mum was well and couldn't wait to see him. After hearing the news, he dashed off to the loo to compose himself.

And dad Joseph, who opened up the family's treasured photo album revealed Christine's worsening condition has been increasingly tough on everyone close to her family—especially Liam.

He said: "The tears he sheds when he speaks about her are absolutely genuine. He was really concerned about leaving her when he went in the house. Liam shares an extraordinary bond with his mother and as her illness has progressed they have become even closer."

It was a few years after Liam—her second child—was born that Christine first showed the early symptoms of MS.

It meant she eventually had to leave her job as a personnel officer and Joseph was also forced to quit his nursing job at the Newcastle General Hospital to look after her. And as her condition has deteriorated the whole family, including Liam's older brother Dominic, have pulled together to care for her in the bungalow they share in Lanchester, Co Durham.

Joseph revealed: "When Liam gets home after work the first thing he always does is go see her to check if she is okay. He will kiss her on the cheek or give her a hug—they play a big part in each other's lives.

"If Christine needs helping out of bed, then Liam will do that too.

"He and his brother also like to take her out whenever they can. Liam will gently lift her into the car and take her shopping to places like the MetroCentre in Gateshead."

Christine now spends much of her time watching TV and she has been glued to BB8 since her son walked in. And the whole family were ecstatic when Liam won £100,000 in a vote by other housemates after just a few days inside.

Joseph smiled: "We were all delighted but couldn't quite believe it. His mum was in bed watching the show and Dominic and I were in the living room. We tried to keep our emotions in check but Dominic was jumping about all over the place. We went straight through to see my wife. Obviously she was over the moon."

Joseph now believes Liam will use some of the money to pay for a carer to come to look after his mum and ease the pressure on the family.

Help

He said: "Hopefully we'll be able to get someone to come early in the morning to help with getting Christine up and dressed. Even helping with breakfast would be good. I'm sure that's one of the first things that Liam will see to."

BB bosses are fully aware of his Christine's illness and know to pull Liam off the show if her condition deteriorates. Joseph said: "Everytime Liam is called into the diary room he enters with trepidation because he knows it could be bad news about his mum.

"He's not a mummy's boy, but he is very well loved by her. He gets his strong moral values, good behaviour and politeness from her. She is so proud of him."

Article News Of The World