I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! viewers were shocked to discover one of Tulisa’s band’s best kept secrets.

N-Dubz star Tulisa is currently starring on the 24th season of the ITV reality TV show, with line-up also including the likes of Coleen Rooney, social media star GK Barry and former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse.

The new season has been making headlines courtesy of hosting duo Ant and Dec’s cheeky nod to the ‘Wagatha Christie’ case involving Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, though it was something else that caught fans’ attention on social media.

In last night’s episode (18 November), Tulisa revealed what N-Dubz actually stands for, and it seems that not many people were in the know about what the hip-hop group’s moniker refers to.

Founded in 2000 when Tulisa was only 12, the group also includes her cousin Dappy and their friend Fazer. The trio released their debut album Uncle B in 2008, with three more to follow, including the recent Timeless, dropped in 2023.

In the I’m A Celeb jungle, Tulisa discussed starting the group and explained what the name stands for.

The former X-Factor judge said N-Dubz simply stands for ‘NW’, the postcode for North West London – the area of the capital where the Camden Town band hails from.

The revelation prompted Mabuse, who lives in North West London with her husband Marius Lepure, to say: “I’m N-Dubz!”

Oti Mabuse was just as shocked as the rest of us (ITV)

Viewers were also left stunned to discover the meaning behind the name, taking to X to share their surprise.

“I was today years old when I learnt the meaning of N-Dubz,” one person wrote, while another noted: “It’s been decades and I only now realise that N-Dubz stood for NW, the postcode for north west London.”

A third asked: “Anyone else who had no idea NDubz stood for North west London?”

Another commented: “Can’t believe I’ve only just found out what n-dubz meant…”

And someone else put: “N-DUBZ just means a postcode area?!”

The group took a hiatus in 2011 to pursue their solo careers, with Tulisa joining The X-Factor as a judge the same year and releasing her debut solo album The Female Boss in 2012, which included UK number one single ‘Young’ as well as ‘Live It Up’ and ‘Sight of You’. In 2022, N-Dubz re-formed and announced a UK tour that quickly sold out.

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group might make a commission on anything purchased.

How to watch I’m A Celebrity ad-free

I’m A Celeb fans can watch the show ad-free by signing up for a free trial of ITVX Premium here. It’s £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year thereafter.

It’s only been one episode but I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! is truly back with plenty of us already eagerly awaiting tonight’s (18 November) fix.

So, in the meantime we’ve been fixating on bits of trivia from Rebekah Vardy making a dig at the detective icon Coleen Rooney to why the stars no longer have phone numbers on their backs.

And, of course, there’s the reasoning behind Tulisa’s tattoo as we celebrated her bringing back that pose last night. But that’s not the only thing the N-Dubz singer has us chatting about as many I’m A Celeb viewers were left stunned after learning how old the star really is.

As well as releasing bangers with the group and tunes like ‘Young’ as a soloist, Tulisa is probably best-known for her time spent as a judge on The X Factor from 2011 to 2012.

But what you probably don’t realise is just how young she was back then.

Recently appearing on Olivia Attwood’s So Wrong It’s Right podcast, Tulisa explained how she was just 22-years-old when she landed a spot on the judging panel.

“I was the youngest judge ever at the time,” she said.Looking back, she describes the time as a ‘whirlwind’ and just ‘bizarre’.

“I manifested it – I looked at that job and I thought, ‘I’m going to have that job, that job is mine,’” the singer added.

Tulisa revealed she told Simon Cowell that if he didn’t hire her for the show, it would be ‘the biggest mistake he’d ever make in his life’.

“But I knew he was going to like that energy,” she added. “He hired me on the spot.”

Yep, those years as a kid watching Tulisa judging on The X Factor, thinking she’s some fully grown adult, she was just a young 20 something old.

Tulisa was just 22 when she landed her judging job. (ITV)

So, fast forward to her making her TV comeback on I’m A Celeb now and she’s at the age of 36 – younger than you thought, right?

Celebrating her 35^th birthday last year, she posted a snap of her eating cake to Instagram as fans praised: “You don’t look a day over 21.”

As others were stunned: “No way are you 35!”

And as she graced our screens last night, fans continued the praise: “Yes let’s not forget that Tulisa was an X Factor judge for Little Mix at age 23.. Dean is right, she is really is full of wisdom.”

Another put: “People forget how iconic Tulisa is, she was a judge on the X Factor at age 23! Not only that, she was the mentor for Little Mix and Ella Henderson.”

This article contains affiliate links and LADbible Group might make a commission on anything purchased.

How to watch I’m A Celebrity ad-free

I’m A Celeb fans can watch the show ad-free by signing up for a free trial of ITVX Premium here. It’s £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year thereafter.