Singer-songwriter Tulisa Contostavlos has attended the National Television Awards wearing a gown patterned with newspaper headlines from a high-profile drug sting scandal. The black and white strapless dress bore words including "coke dealer", "arrested", "facing prison" and "homewrecker". The text referred to press coverage surrounding an elaborate sting for The Sun On Sunday that resulted in her arrest on suspicion of supplying class A drugs in 2013.
Charges against the star were dismissed in 2014 after prosecution witness and "Fake Sheikh" journalist Mazher Mahmood was convicted of tampering with evidence. Styling her hair in a slick back bun, the singer showcased the design, which also featured the words "police raid", "drug dealer", "chav" and "breakdown". The former X Factor judge has since campaigned for independent press regulation, launching a petition signed by over 35,600 people.
Contostavlos is best known for performing in hip-hop group N-Dubz, who achieved hits with songs including I Need You, Girls and Number 1, featuring Tinchy Stryder. In 2011 she became a judge on popular reality singing series The X Factor where she helped girl group Little Mix win, and a year later she released her debut solo album, The Female Boss. The Camden-born star has released two autobiographies, and her 2025 memoir Judgement details the highs and “unimaginable lows” of her music career, including her collapsed drugs trial.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. She is among the stars that walked down the red carpet for the award ceremony on Tuesday evening including TV presenter Graham Norton who attended in black tie.
Meanwhile ITV This Morning co-presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard posed together for photographs. Deeley wore a floral red and purple gown with a statement gold necklace while Shephard wore a burgundy suit with a navy blue shirt. Comedian Joel Dommett will host the show for the sixth consecutive year.
Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, boxing champion Tyson Fury and reality star Stacey Solomon are among the contenders whose television shows are shortlisted for this year’s National Television Awards. Recognising the surge in fly-on-the-wall celebrity programming, At Home With The Furys, Clarkson’s Farm and Stacey & Joe will compete for the inaugural reality docuseries award. Elsewhere, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and The Traitors lead the reality competition category alongside spin-offs I’m A Celebrity… South Africa and The Celebrity Traitors.
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