Tulisa: My 'blackout period' is 'all a bit of a blur'

Tulisa Contostavlos has told ITV London her public misdemeanours are "all a bit of a blur" as she bids to get her singing career back on track following her "blackout period".

The former N-Dubz singer and X Factor judge made front page news in a series of scandals, including an assault charge in 2013 and a drunk driving incident last year.

She was also in the headlines when an ex-boyfriend released a sex tape, and was arrested by police on suspicion of supplying class A drugs - a case which was later dismissed.

The 26-year-old singer, who is promoting her comeback single Sweet Like Chocolate, said she still disputes the assault conviction but said the drink driving conviction was her biggest regret.

"I hold my hands up I made a big mistake," she said. "I've lived my life in the media from a really young age.

"I'm going to make mistakes and unlike everyone else I'm going to go through them publicly."

The incidents came as Tulisa was firmly in the showbiz spotlight, with her weekly judging appearances on X Factor helping to launch the careers of Little Mix.

She said she wanted to put the run of public mistakes, which led to prolonged negative press, behind her.

"That's what I guess I'm referring to by calling it the blackout period because it's all a bit of a blur really and something I feel I've moved on from now and I'm happy to put behind me in the past."

She added: "There's only a certain amount of knowledge that you're going to have at the age of 22 and you can only be prepared to a certain extent."

Asked what advice she would give to her younger self, she said: "I would say there's going to be as many ups as there are downs, but hang on in there and if it's not alright it's not the end."