I’m A Celebrity fans have been left stunned after discovering Tulisa Contostavlos’ father is also famous.
The N-Dubz singer, 36, is making her return to the spotlight in this series of the ITV show after a long hiatus.
And viewers have taken to X to describe their surprise after discovering Tulisa’s dad is Plato – a keyboard player from the band Mungo Jerry.
The rock group was formed by Ray Dorset in 1970 and they were famed for their hit In The Summertime.
Tulisa’s uncle – her bandmate Dappy‘s father – Byron was the bassist for the band and later became the manager of N-Dubz.
Commenting on her musical heritage, fans wrote: ‘Did you know that Tulisa and Dappy’s uncle was in Mungo Jerry of In The Summertime fame?’
I’m A Celebrity fans have been left stunned after discovering Tulisa Contostavlos’ father is also famous
Viewers have taken to X to describe their surprise after discovering Tulisa’s dad is Plato – a keyboard player from the band Mungo Jerry (pictured in 2011)
‘I did not know that Tulisa Contostavlos’ dad was the keyboard player in Mungo Jerry.’
‘Little piece of trivia. Tulisa’s father and uncle were in the band Mungo Jerry.’
The Contostavlos family left Africa in the Seventies and moved to London where they lived in a six-bedroom house in leafy Brondesbury, with Tulisa’s grandfather a senior diplomat with the United Nations.
After touring the world with Mungo Jerry, Plato returned to London. He got together with Tulisa’s mother, Ann Byrne, in 1984, and Tulisa was born four years later.
A talented singer and impressionist, Ann enjoyed fleeting success with her sisters Louisa, Paula and Moira in 1980s swing band Jeep.
There was also an appearance on short-lived talent show Go For It, in which she performed as Hollywood screen icon Marilyn Monroe.
Unbeknown to Plato, however, Ann had suffered a mental breakdown two years before they met.
Later diagnosed as a schizoaffective disorder, the condition was triggered again when Tulisa was two and Ann began suffering from hallucinations.
The rock group was formed by Ray Dorset (pictured in 1974) in 1970 and they were famed for their hit In The Summertime
Commenting on her musical heritage, fans wrote: ‘Did you know that Tulisa and Dappy’s uncle was in Mungo Jerry of In The Summertime fame?’
After touring the world, Plato returned to London. He got together with Tulisa’s mother, Ann Byrne, in 1984 who was in the singing group Jeep (L-R: Ann, Louisa, Paula and Moira Byrne)
The singer was thrust into the role of primary carer for her mum when she was 11 after her father split from Ann, who battled a combination of bipolar and schizophrenia
Ann’s condition continued to deteriorate, meaning she spent regular periods in the psychiatric unit at the nearby Royal Free Hospital.
It was a devastating time for the family, with Plato looking after Tulisa on his own and his daughter unable at first to understand why her mother was not at home.
The couple split up when Tulisa was 10.
After the break-up, Plato moved in with his parents at their £1.2 million five-bedroom house in West Hampstead, while Tulisa stayed with her mother.
The singer was thrust into the role of primary carer for her mum who battled a combination of bipolar and schizophrenia.
She was sent to the local comprehensive, Haverstock School, whose ex-pupils include Ed Miliband.
Detailing her mother’s symptoms in 2012 autobiography Honest, Tulisa wrote: ‘Mum was obsessive about locking our front door, and it was always locked from the inside with the keys still hanging in the door.
‘One morning I noticed that although the key was in the lock, it hadn’t been turned, and the door was actually unlocked.
‘Knowing that my mum would freak out and feel vulnerable if she spotted it, I turned the key and locked it myself. Within seconds my mum, hearing the jangle of the keys, came tearing out into the hall, screaming at me hysterically.’
The N-Dubz singer, 36, is making her return to the spotlight in this series of the ITV show after a long hiatus
Tulisa’s uncle – her bandmate Dappy ‘s father – Byron was the bassist for the band and later became the manager of N-Dubz
Byron – who died in April 2007 of a heart attack – was responsible for setting N-Dubz on the path to success
She added: ‘I guess she thought I was trying to open the door and panicked, but went completely off the deep end, accusing me of wanting to make her ill, or even kill her, and it went on and on.
‘Incidents like this were a regular occurrence in our house, along with temper tantrums and mood swings.’
Appearing in the 2010 documentary, Tulisa explained that her mother’s illness had made her upbringing so difficult that she rebelled by drinking, taking drugs, joining a gang and even attempting suicide.
The singer revealed that she became depressed and started drinking as a teenager because her life ‘felt like a living hell.’
She went on to make multiple suicide attempts.
Tulisa admitted: ‘One of the worst things about dealing with my mum was how helpless and alone I felt at such a vulnerable age.’
Tulisa said she suffered bullying at school, which her father says was triggered by jealousy as she started to enjoy success with the Lickle Rinsers.
In the end, Plato took his daughter out of the school for a year, before she returned to another in the area, Quintin Kynaston.
She left at 16 before taking her GCSEs, but less than five years later had turned her life into a success.
In 2007 Anne was finally diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and her behaviour has remained stable ever since.
- If you have been affected by anything in this story, call the MIND info-line on: 0300 123 3393
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.
