The heartbreaking tale of I'm A Celeb star Tulisa Contostavlos' late uncle Byron who started N-Dubz with a £50 bribe
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Tulisa Contostavlos has revealed she was paid £50 to join N-Dubz, but she nearly quit the group just before they 'made it'.
And it was former Mungo Jerry musician Byron – father of Tulisa's cousin Dappy – who was responsible for setting N-Dubz on the path to success.
Byron - who Tulisa calls Uncle B - died in April 2007 of a heart attack in his family home.
The band later paid tribute to him by naming 2008 debut album Uncle B and penning one of its lead tracks, Papa Can You Hear Me, in his honour.
Tulisa also has a tattoo tribute on her forearm of a microphone and musical notes with the words: 'RIP Uncle B N Dubz for Life.'
Tulisa Contostavlos has revealed she was paid £50 to join N-Dubz, but she nearly quit the group just before they 'made it'
It was former Mungo Jerry musician Byron – who died in April 2007 of a heart attack – who was responsible for setting N-Dubz on the path to success
Dappy has the words RIP Dad etched into his neck as a lasting testament to his father.
In an interview with The Guardian, Dappy revealed he tried and failed to resuscitate his father after the heart attack.
He said: 'When he died I was by myself. He guided me for 18 years. He was my dad and my best friend, that's why I called him B, never Dad. When he died I was lost.'
Tulisa shot to fame as part of the R&B group, which was made up of her cousin Dappy and his best friend Fazer.
Tulisa, who joined the group when she was just 11-years-old, revealed she almost 'gave up' on the band before they became famous when she was aged 17.
The former X Factor judge, who is making her television comeback by appearing on this year's I'm A Celebrity, was sat around the campfire when she opened up to her campmates as they settled into jungle life.
As Oti asked Tulisa what that N-Dubz actually stands for, the X Factor star explained it was after the postcode for North West London.
Oti quipped: 'I'm N-Dubz!'
The band later paid tribute to him by naming 2008 debut album Uncle B and penning one of its lead tracks, Papa Can You Hear Me, in his honour
The former X Factor judge, who is making her television comeback by appearing on this year's I'm A Celebrity, was sat around the campfire when she opened up to her campmates as they settled into jungle life
Tulisa has a tattoo on her forearm in honour of her late uncle Byron Contostavlos, father of bandmate and cousin Dappy of a heart atack
Tulisa explained that Dappy originally wanted to be a solo star, but her Uncle B, Dappy's dad, said they should be in a group.
She said: 'My uncle offered me 20 quid and then I bartered him up to 50.'
When Alan Halsall commended her for sticking at the group, Tulisa admitted: 'At the moment we made it, I was at the sort of 'give up' stage.'
She added: 'It just goes to show in all situations, hang on in there guys.'
It comes after Tulisa revealed that she had a different name when she was younger.
Before going on I'm A Celebrity, Tulisa was called by another moniker and before returning to TV revealed the reason why.
Appearing on Olivia Attwood's So Wrong it's Right podcast, Olivia quipped: 'Tulisa is not your actual name?'
And Tulisa admitted that it was first time anyone had ever asked her about her real name.
Elsewhere during the show, Tulisa shocked fans as she revealed the true meaning behind N-Dubz name
Tulisa shot to fame as part of the R&B group, which was made up of her cousin Dappy and his best friend Fazer
The former X Factor judge replied: 'No it's not, you're the first person to bring that up ever, I love that.'
The singer revealed that her real name was in fact Tula.
Explaining why, she said: 'My grandma is called Tula, so I was named after her. But Tulisa means tiny Tula in Greek. So that ended up being my nickname anyway growing up.'
Tulisa then revealed that the pronunciations of Tulisa in Greek and British are quite different, with Olivia stating that 'we butcher it'.
I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! continues Tuesday at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX
I'M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP
OTI MABUSE
Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: Professional dancer
FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.
DANNY JONES
Danny Jones is one of the bookies' favourites to win this year's I'm A Celeb
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: McFly singer
FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.
He is also a coach on The Voice UK.
BARRY MCGUIGAN
Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle
AGE: 63
OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer
FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight titles from 1985 to 1986.
GK BARRY
GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: TikTok star
FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.
DEAN MCCULLOUGH
ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp
AGE: 32
OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ
FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I'm A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.
Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.
JANE MOORE
Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Journalist
FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.
She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.
Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.
MELVIN ODOOM
Melvin was previously courted by I'm A Celeb bosses back in 2021
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter
FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I'm A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.
He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.
COLEEN ROONEY
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show's history
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: WAG
FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.
Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show's history, exceeding Nigel Farage's £1.5million from last year.
ALAN HALSALL
Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street
AGE: 42
OCCUPATION: Actor
FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I'm A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.
Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.
TULISA
Tulisa is making her career comeback after reuniting with N-Dubz last year
AGE: 36
OCCUPATION: Singer and former X Factor judge
FAMOUS FOR: Tulisa reunited with N-Dubz last year for a tour after first finding fame with the band in 2007.
In 2011, she became a judge on The X Factor and went on to launch her debut solo album, The Female Boss.
She released her fourth album with N-Dubz last year.
REVEREND RICHARD COLES
Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest
AGE: 62
OCCUPATION: Writer, broadcaster and priest
FAMOUS FOR: Richard is an English writer, radio presenter and Church of England priest.
He first came to prominence as the multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band the Communards.
MAURA HIGGINS
Maura is best known for her stint on Love Island UK in 2019
AGE: 33
OCCUPATION: TV Personality
FAMOUS FOR: Maura is an Irish television personality, television presenter and model.
She rose to prominence in 2019, when she was a finalist on the fifth series of ITV2 reality series Love Island.
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