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Kerry Katona

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Kerry Katona
Katona in 2005
Born (1980-09-06) 6 September 1980 (age 44)[1]
Warrington, Cheshire, England
Occupation(s)Television personality, singer
Years active1998–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 2002; div. 2004)​
Mark Croft
​
​
(m. 2007; div. 2011)​
George Kay
​
​
(m. 2014; div. 2017)​
Children5
Musical career
InstrumentsVocals
Formerly ofAtomic Kitten
Websitewww.kerrykatona.co.uk

Kerry Katona (born 6 September 1980) is an English television personality and former singer. She was an original member of the pop girl group Atomic Kitten between 1998 and 2001, leaving before the group's success. Katona has appeared on various reality television shows, including I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here (2004), Celebrity Big Brother (2011), Dancing on Ice (2011), and Celebs on the Farm (2021), as well as her own documentary series about her life on MTV UK.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Katona was born in Warrington, Cheshire. Katona's maternal grandfather is Hungarian who fled Budapest to London during the Second World War.[3] As a child she was placed in care and brought up by four sets of foster parents and attended eight different schools.[4] She left school at sixteen and become a lap dancer, touring Europe.[5] She also posed topless for Page 3 in The Sun at the age of 17 and posed for the men's publication Zoo.[6][7] She also worked as glamour model, appearing in publications like New!,[8][9] Now Magazine,[10] and Star.[11]

Career

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1998–2001: Atomic Kitten

[edit]

In 1998, Katona auditioned for a new girl group created by OMD frontman Andy McCluskey and was chosen, along with Liz McClarnon and Heidi Range – replaced by Natasha Hamilton in 1999. The group became Atomic Kitten and their debut single, "Right Now", was released on 29 November 1999, reaching number 10 in UK.[12] Following this initial success, the group released three more singles that failed to reach the top 5 and a debut album that peaked at number 29.[12] Atomic Kitten's record label, Innocent Records, was considering dropping them because of their limited success, but were persuaded to allow the group to release "Whole Again" on 29 January 2001.[13] Katona shot the music video, but left the group two days before release because of an unexpected pregnancy and conflicts with the other girls.[14]

She was quickly replaced by former Precious singer Jenny Frost and their debut album was re-released with the new vocalist.[15] With Frost, "Whole Again" reached number one in 18 other countries,[15] and the group had four number one singles in UK, two number one albums and estimated sales of 10 million records.[16]

2002–2012: Reality shows

[edit]

In 2002, Katona presented the ITV's dating show ElimiDate and appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[17] In 2004, she won the third series of the British reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!.[18] She also appeared as judge on the RTÉ talent show You're a Star. In 2005 Katona starred her own reality show, My Fair Kerry, on ITV.[19] From 2007 to 2010, she starred more five reality shows on MTV UK about her life, rehab and bipolar disorder: Kerry Katona: Crazy in Love (2007), Kerry Katona: Whole Again (2008), Kerry Katona: What's The Problem? (2009), Kerry Katona: Coming Clean (2010) and Kerry Katona: The Next Chapter (2010).[20] In 2009, she also attempted to become a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother 7 but she failed the required psychological tests.[21]

In 2011 she was a contestant on Dancing on Ice Series 6 and Celebrity Big Brother 8, reaching the second place.[22]

2013–present: Atomic Kitten return and new reality shows

[edit]

In 2013 Katona reunited with Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton to reform Atomic Kitten for the reality show The Big Reunion, along with five other pop groups of their time – 911, Honeyz, B*Witched, Five and Liberty X.[23] After the show, they officially returned and toured for four years.[24][25][26] In 2017 Katona left the group again when she drank and hit Hamilton after a performance in Australia.[27] In 2019, Katona appeared in the sixth series of E4 reality series Celebs Go Dating.[28]

In 2021, Katona starred more reality shows, including Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, Fame in the Family, Celeb Cooking School and Celebs on the Farm, which she won.[29][30] In 2022, she became co-host of the Wheel of Misfortune podcast alongside comedian Alison Spittle.[31]

Personal life

[edit]

From 2002 to 2004 Katona was married to singer Brian McFadden and they had two children, Molly Marie (2001) and Lilly-Sue (2003).[32][33] In 2005 she started dating taxi driver Mark Croft, whom she married on 14 February 2007 and had two children with: Heidi Elizabeth (2007) and Maxwell Mark (2008).[34][35] In her autobiography, Still Standing, Katona said she met Croft when she was supplying cocaine to her mother.[36] They divorced in 2011.[37] On 14 September 2014 Katona married former rugby league player George Kay and had her fifth child, Dylan-Jorge (2014).[38][39][40] On 7 October 2015, Katona announced their separation after he allegedly assaulted her at their home in Crowborough and was subsequently arrested by police.[41][42][43] Kay died on 5 July 2019 after an overdose.[44]

Health and drugs abuse

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Since 2004, Katona has been in rehab many times for cocaine and alcohol abuse, according to her autobiography, Still Standing.[44] In 2009, Iceland Foods and Asda supermarkets broke a long-standing €290,000 advertising campaigns deal with Katona after photographs appeared in the tabloids, allegedly showing her taking cocaine in a bathroom.[45][46]

Like her mother Sue, Katona was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2005.[47] On 19 July 2007 Katona was admitted to the Priory Hospital with a mental health crisis.[48] Katona also has dyslexia[49] and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).[50] Katona is a patron of The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a Warrington-based charity which helps children with life-threatening conditions.[51]

[edit]

On 15 July 2007, Katona, Croft, and their infant daughter Heidi were held hostage, when three men forcibly entered their home in Wilmslow, one of them holding Katona at knife-point while the others forced Croft to show them where valuables were kept.[52] Nobody was physically harmed, but the men left with a blue BMW and other valuables with an estimated total value between £100,000 and £150,000.[53][54] On 21 August 2008, Katona was declared bankrupt at the High Court in London after failing to pay the final £82,000 of a £417,000 tax bill.[55][56] On 2 July 2013, Katona filed for bankruptcy again at County Court in Wigan.[57]

On 8 May 2019, Brighton Magistrates' Court ordered Katona to pay a £500 fine after the school attendance rate of one of her children had fallen below 50% in 2018, but her solicitor argued that Katona did not have childcare and had to take the child to work with her.[58]

Filmography

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Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2002 ElimiDate Presenter
You're a Star Judge
2004 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant Series 3
2005 My Fair Kerry Herself ITV's reality show
2007 Kerry Katona: Crazy in Love MTV UK's reality show
2008 Kerry Katona: Whole Again
2009 Kerry Katona: What's The Problem?
2010 Kerry Katona: Coming Clean
Kerry Katona: The Next Chapter
2011 Dancing on Ice Contestant Series 6
Celebrity Big Brother Series 8
2012 The Big Reunion Herself
2019 Celebs Go Dating Contestant Series 6
2021 Celebs on the Farm Series 3
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins Series 3
2022 Fame in the Family
Celeb Cooking School
2023 The Big Celebrity Detox [59]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Katona, Kerry (5 October 2006). Too Much, Too Young: My Story of Love, Survival and Celebrity. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09-191390-8.
  • Katona, Kerry (1 March 2007). Survive the Worst and Aim for the Best. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09-191754-8.
  • Katona, Kerry (18 October 2007). Tough Love. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09-192319-8.
  • Katona, Kerry (3 April 2008). The Footballer's Wife. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09-192324-2.
  • Katona, Kerry (22 November 2012). Still Standing: The Autobiography. Orion. ISBN 978-1-40-912746-8.
  • Katona, Kerry (13 October 2022). Kerry Katona: Whole Again - Love, Life and Me. Mirror Books. ISBN 978-1-91-530604-3.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Everett, Charlotte (6 September 2022). "Kerry Katona says she never thought she would make 42 as she celebrates birthday". mirror. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  2. ^ Morag Preston (22 March 2008). "Kerry Katona and friends in the Return of the Bonkbuster". The Times. UK. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  3. ^ Nick McGrath (18 February 2012). "Kerry Katona: My family values". Guardian. UK. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  4. ^ Telegraph.co.uk "Ghost stories". 3 September 2006, p. 6
  5. ^ Damien Fletcher (21 July 2007). "Kerry's Gold". Daily Mirror. UK. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  6. ^ "Katona wants to be glamour model again?". Digital Spy. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  7. ^ "SEE PICS Kerry Katona shows off new boobs". Now Magazine. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Kerry Katona admits to relationship strain". New!. 16 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Kerry Katona Says Cancelling Wedding To George Kay Following Bankruptcy Has 'Put A Strain On Us'". New!. 16 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Kerry Katona Reveals She's Made 'Biggest Mistake' By Splitting With Steve Alce". Huffington Post. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Kerry Katona: 'I'd love to play Coronation Street psycho'". Digital Spy. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  12. ^ a b "UK Charts > Atomic Kitten". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  13. ^ BBC News: Atomic Kitten's perfect year. News.bbc.co.uk, Retrieved 29 July 2006
  14. ^ BBC News: McFadden and Katona tie knot. News.bbc.co.uk, Retrieved 30 July 2006
  15. ^ a b "Chartverfolgung / Atomic Kitten / Single" (in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  16. ^ "Nothing going on but the Rent for Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton". Lancashire Evening Post. Johnston Press. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  17. ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 6 May 2001. ITV.
  18. ^ Busk-Cowley, Mark (2014). I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!: The Inside Story. Bantam Press. p. 206. ISBN 978-0593073483.
  19. ^ "Showbands" IMDB. Retrieved 17 May 2009
  20. ^ "All-Star line-up revealed for third series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins | Channel 4". www.channel4.com.
  21. ^ Lisa McGarry. "Kerry Katona: 'I failed Celebrity Big Brother psychological tests'". unrealitytv.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
  22. ^ "Paddy Wins Celebrity BB!". This is Big Brother. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  23. ^ "The 90s are back: reunions from Atomic Kitten, 5ive, and more". Gigwise. 10 April 2013.
  24. ^ "Atomic Kitten reunion confirmed by Natasha Hamilton – Music News". Digital Spy. 4 March 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  25. ^ "ITVS to reform pop bands for The Big Reunion". Broadcast. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  26. ^ "The 90s are back: reunions from Atomic Kitten, 5ive, and more". Gigwise.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Kerry Katona details physical fight with Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton". Yahoo. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  28. ^ "So what does everyone think of the new series lineup? #coming2019". Instagram.com. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  29. ^ "Kerry Katona and Holly Hagan sign up for Celebs on the Farm". Closer. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Celeb Cooking School". channel4.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Kerry Katona joins Wheel of Misfortune". Chortle. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  32. ^ "McFadden and Katona tie knot". BBC News. 5 January 2002. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  33. ^ Hellomagazine.com (8 October 2009). "Westlife. Biography, news, photos and videos". hellomagazine.com. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  34. ^ "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Kerry Katona has baby girl early". 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  35. ^ "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Reality star Katona gives birth". 24 April 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  36. ^ Beth Hardie (13 March 2009). "Kerry Katona in tears as spokesman officially confirms divorce". daily mirror. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  37. ^ "Tears as Kerry Katona announces her marriage is over". Daily Record. Scotland. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
  38. ^ "Kerry Katona marries George Kay". RTÉ.ie. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  39. ^ "Kerry Katona Gives Birth To Fifth Child, Welcomes Baby Girl To Partner George Kay". 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  40. ^ "Kerry Katona's fiance George Kay: My three years behind bars". Now. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  41. ^ "Kerry Katona to divorce third husband after arrest". RTE. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  42. ^ "Kerry Katona's husband George Kay cleared of assault". BBC News. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  43. ^ "Kerry Katona: 'Sometimes I think I attract drama'". The Guardian. 6 July 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  44. ^ a b "Kerry Katona's ex-husband George Kay dies after suspected overdose". Metro.co.uk. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  45. ^ "Katona and PR guru Clifford split". BBC News. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  46. ^ Brook, Stephen (18 August 2009). "Kerry Katona dropped by Iceland". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  47. ^ "Kerry Katona wants to become a life coach and help other people". Manchester Evening News. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  48. ^ "Katona checks into Priory clinic". BBC. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  49. ^ "Dyslexic Kerry Katona admits she had help with her new novel". CelebsNow. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  50. ^ "Kerry Katona tells Katie Price's critics to back off and reveals she's turned her own wild ways around". Daily Mirror. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  51. ^ "Shannon Bradshaw Trust – Helping ill children and their Families". Shannontrust.org.uk. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  52. ^ Katona held captive by armed gang. BBC News. Retrieved 16 July 2007.
  53. ^ "Kerry Katona Held By Armed Raiders". Sky News. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 August 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  54. ^ "Katona 'distraught' after armed robbery". ITV News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.
  55. ^ "Ex-Kitten Katona is made bankrupt". News.bbc.co.uk. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  56. ^ "KATONA". The London Gazette. 28 August 2008.[permanent dead link]
  57. ^ "Katona files for bankruptcy again". Telegraph.co.uk. London. 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  58. ^ "Kerry Katona fined £500 for failing to send her child to school". BBC News. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  59. ^ "Kerry Katona signs up for extreme new reality show with Love Island and Netflix stars". ok.co.uk. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
[edit]
Preceded by I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!
Winner & Queen of The Jungle
2004 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kerry_Katona&oldid=1254522005"