X Factor judge and mega-selling pop star 'heading for the I'm A Celeb jungle'
An X Factor judge and pop icon could be set to enter the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle, according to reports. Having risen to fame as part of N-Dubz, it’s reported that singer Tulisa Contostavlos could be entering this year’s I’m A Celebrity jungle - one decade after she appeared on our screens as a judge on ITV’s X Factor.
“Tulisa has been on ITV’s hit list for a while but until now she’s never wanted to consider it,” a source told The Sun. “This year is a decade since she left The X Factor so she felt the time was right to return to the TV spotlight - the amazing reception to the N-Dubz reunion tour really helped build her confidence.”
The source also claimed that 36 year old Tulisa’s varied career meant that she would appeal to the show’s “wide audience”. They added: “TV bosses are particularly excited by the new wealth of fans in the crucial 16 to 24 age range who have discovered Tulisa and the band through TikTok and everyone hopes the deal is signed soon.”
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In response to the reports, a spokesperson for the ITV series told the publication that any names suggested for the show “are speculation”. OK! has contacted representatives for ITV and Tulisa Contostavlos for comment.
Having won Best UK Act at the MOBO Awards in 2009, N-Dubz are known for hits including I Need You, Playing With Fire and Girls, and the trio secured a UK Number One single with Tinchy Stryder for their single Number 1. After going on hiatus in 2011, the group reunited in 2022.
Away from her career in the group, Tulisa is known for being a judge on X Factor. Following Cheryl’s departure from the show, the pop icon joined the ITV show for its eights series alongside the likes of Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, and Nicole Scherzinger. During her time on the show, she mentored acts including Ella Henderson and Lucy Spraggan, and saw Little Mix become the first group to win the series in 2011.
As well as Tulisa, it’s been reported that Tommy Fury could be heading into the jungle following his split from Molly-Mae Hague. “Tommy is a great name as a potential campmate as he's already known to the ITV audience and he'd be brilliant in the Bushtucker Trials. Bosses are talking with lots of celebrities ahead of the new series and are determined to make this year's line-up one of the best,” a source told The Sun.
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