I’m A Celeb star Tulisa issues apology after reason she missed final is revealed

After I'm A Celebrity viewers were baffled to see former contestant Tulisa Contostavlos missing from last night's finale, the former musician has now issued an apology.

Taking to Instagram, the 34-year-old issued an emotional statement.

Last night's (8 December) grand finale saw McFly's Danny Jones crowned this year's King of the Jungle, having sailed all the way through to the last episode with co-stars Reverend Richard Coles and much-loved WAG Coleen Rooney.

As per the ITV reality show's annual tradition, all nine eliminated stars gathered together again to watch Danny receive his crown and spectre - apart from one contestant.

After exiting the show surprisingly early - sparking some fans' outrage - former fan-favourite Tulisa Contostavlos was nowhere to be seen.

Her absence also followed a series of controversial remarks she made about her fellow campmates during a live interview with talk-show host Lorraine Kelly, and the deletion of all of her I'm A Celebrity-based Instagram content.

The former X Factor judge also failed to appear on presenter Joel Dommett's spin-off show Unpacked.

As such, some viewers of the show were concerned that some form of row had occurred behind the scenes - especially after it was later later confirmed that she wouldn't be in attendance for the final.

Danny Jones was crowned this year's King of the Jungle (ITV)

It turns out that the ex-singer had already flown back to the UK from Australia when last night's episode aired.

Now, following her absence last night, the star has once again taken to Instagram to issue an apology to fans.

Sharing a snap of herself in the jungle, she penned in the caption: "Looking back at some of my favourite moments from the @Imacelebrity jungle. It’s been a whirlwind.

"Thank you to @itv for the experience and sending so much love to my Jungle Fam before the final tonight. Sorry I can’t be there to celebrate with you all."

Tulisa's apology comes just days after she first took to social media - following speculation of a BTS fall-out - to explain that she'd become 'overwhelmed' by the response to the show.

Explaining that she's remained predominantly out the spotlight for the last decade, she revealed that she holds no ill-will against her former co-stars or the show's producers, adding that she'd be taking some time to prioritise her mental health.

Tulisa apologised for her absence (Instagram/@tulisacontostavlos)

"I was getting a lot of attention, a lot of bombarding - in all the most positive way, but because it's been a bit of a while for me, I can get overwhelmed quite easily and I just started to feel a little bit overwhelmed," she told viewers of the video.

"And I was like, do you know what? I need to just take a little bit of time for me and just chill. This is all just feeling a bit much at the moment."

She added: "I'm just going to archive all my stuff to do with the jungle and then, when the time is right and I've had time to process, I'm going to make my own reels of my best bits that I really like.

"Because remember, I haven't been doing my Instagrams. The way it's being posted and all the random stuff is not how I would do my Insta - I would have one or two really good reels relating to the jungle and bringing my time together there.

"But I just really wanted to clear up the reasons why that I did that and just be honest - it's OK to feel a little bit overwhelmed. I've been out of the spotlight for a long time and I'm still trying to overcome those things, I've got my demons.

"It doesn't mean I'm going to hide behind a rock for another ten years it just means I need a little bit of time to process it and get right with my thoughts."