SINGER and TV star Tulisa Contostavlos is set to launch her showbiz comeback on I’m a Celebrity.
It has been ten years since her last major role, when she was a judge on The X Factor.
Tulisa then spent years away from the limelight before reuniting with grime band N-Dubz for a sell-out tour last year.
Now jungle bosses are thrilled she’s in talks to join the hit reality series, hosted by Ant and Dec.
And the move could see Tulisa, 36, revive her career as a household name.
A source said yesterday: “Tulisa has been on ITV’s hit list for a while but until now she’s never wanted to consider it.
“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.
“Crucially for ITV, the breadth of her career means that she will appeal to I’m a Celebrity’s wide audience.
“As well as everyone knowing her from The X Factor, her original music fanbase has boomed thanks for the N-Dubz reunion tour.
“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.”
Tulisa first found fame with N-Dubz in 2008.
Joined by her cousin Dappy and his pal Fazer, the group sold more than 1.3million albums and had 13 UK Top 40 singles.
They split in 2011 and embarked on solo projects.
But Tulisa was singled out by media mogul Simon Cowell and she replaced Cheryl Cole as a judge for the eighth series of talent show The X Factor.
She appeared on the judging panel alongside Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger.
During two series on the show she backed Little Mix, Ella Henderson and Lucy Spraggan.
Away from the spotlight, Tulisa revealed in 2020 she suffered Bell’s palsy, which causes facial paralysis.
This year is a decade since she left The X Factor so she felt the time was right to return to the TV spotlight
A source
She previously dismissed the idea of appearing on a reality music show but was keen on a cookery show.
In 2019 Tulisa said: “I steer clear of them because it’s hard to keep being a credible musician when you start delving into that.
“Although there are loads that make me go ‘that would be so much fun’, and Masterchef is definitely one! Because I’m such a huge cook in my spare time.”
An jungle show spokesman insisted: “Any names suggested for I’m a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here are speculation.”
MY VIEW
TULISA is one of the few stars of British showbiz who gets by with just one name – that’s how much of a cultural icon she is.
Whether you are of the older generation who watched her on The X Factor, followed her documentaries or have streamed her music with N-Dubz, everybody knows who Tulisa is.
And that’s why she’ll be a brilliant I’m A Celebrity campmate.
The Sun has revealed tonight how Tulisa is in talks to join the jungle.
I’ve covered the show from Australia twice and I’ve seen firsthand how the conditions can get to celebrities and cracks rapidly begin to show.
There have been some who have floundered during their entry interviews, before they have even crossed that famous bridge into Ant and Dec’s camp.
But that won’t happen to Tulisa.
She’s tenacious, a smart cookie and as we saw when she came up against Gary Barlow on The X Factor, not afraid to stand her ground.
I’d love to have seen her take on Matt Hancock – but I hear ITV has some other corkers up their sleeves for this series.