With Tulisa’s set to head to the I’m A Celebrity jungle on Sunday, fans are amazed to find out the meaning of her band’s name and the unusual inspiration behind N-Dubz
Ahead of Tulisa Contostavlos’ I’m A Celebrity stint, fans are only just now realising the meaning behind the name of her band N-Dubz.
The singer will appear in the line-up for the ITV reality show from Sunday evening, where she will join the likes of ex boxer Barry McGuigan, podcaster GK Barry, WAG Coleen Rooney and McFly star Danny Jones. Tulisa, 36, mentored Little Mix to the final of The X Factor in 2011, but before that she won five MOBO awards, a Brit nomination and 14 top 40 singles.
N-Dubz dominated the charts between 2006 and 2012, bagging their MOBO Award for Best Newcomer in 2007, then signing briefly with Polydor Records before joining All Around the World. The following year their debut album, Uncle B, was certified double platinum and birthed four Top 40 singles.
In 2009, N-Dubz won Best UK Act at the MOBO Awards before releasing their second album, Against All Odds. It swiftly rose to number six in the charts and was certified platinum. Then, in May 2022, they returned with a comeback single, and sold-out their UK arena tour.
Tulisa rose to fame with her cousin Dappy and friend Fazer in N-Dubz after forming in 2001 in Camden Town – which was the inspiration for their name. Sharing their surprise on X, one social media user wrote: “Today I learned that N-Dubz got their name from the NW London postcode.” It’s a reference to their hometown of London, with the N standing for North, while the ‘Dubz’ is short for the how W is pronounced.
Another astonished fan replied: “Took me too long to work that out by which time I realised I was probably the wrong demographic for N-Dubz.” A third added: “What??!!! That is brand new information!!!!” Someone else wrote: “Omg, this is two band names I’ve learned about in the space of one evening. Saturday has truly blessed me.”
And now, Tulisa is reportedly hoping her stint in the jungle will lead to some luck in her personal life after years of heartbreak. She claimed her latest reality TV venture isn’t a career move and she just wants ITV viewers to see her being her “true, authentic self.”
According to reports, Tulisa is hoping she bags herself a romance in the jungle, a la Peter Andre and Katie Price did back in 2004. Although she’s probably hoping it will last longer, Tulisa has been abstinent for two years while she waits for love to find her. In the past, she famously enjoyed high-profile romances with the likes of The Wanted’s Max George and actor Jack O’Connell prior to taking a step back from the limelight. Over recent years, she has kept her love life under wraps but is said to be ready to settle down.
“Tulisa would love a rumble in the jungle,” a source claimed to Closer magazine. “She’s a die-hard romantic, and the tough exterior is just a front after she’s built up a resistance to a lifetime of let-downs.” In terms of single men in camp, Tulisa will have Radio 1 DJ Melvin Odoom and Corrie star Alan Halsall to choose from.
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