Kerry Katona

Early life

Katona was born on 6 September 1980 in Warrington, Cheshire. Katona's maternal grandfather is a Hungarian who fled Budapest to London during the Second World War. As a child she was placed in care and brought up by four sets of foster parents and attended eight different schools. She left school aged 16 and became a lap dancer, touring Europe. She posed topless for Page 3 in The Sun at the age of 17 and posed for the men's publication Zoo. She also worked as a glamour model, appearing in publications like New!, Now, and Star.

Career

1998–2001: Atomic Kitten

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 the UK. 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. Katona shot the music video, but left the group two days before release because of an unexpected pregnancy and conflicts with the other girls.

She was quickly replaced by former Precious singer Jenny Frost and their debut album was re-released with the new vocalist. and the group had four number one singles in the UK, two number one albums and estimated sales of 10 million records.

2002–2012: Reality shows

In 2002, Katona presented the ITV's dating show ElimiDate and appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. In 2004, she won the third series of the British reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!. 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. From 2007 to 2010, she starred in five more 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). In 2009, she also attempted to become a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother 7 but she failed the required psychological tests.

In 2011 she was a contestant on Dancing on Ice Series 6 and Celebrity Big Brother 8, finishing in second place.

2013–present: Atomic Kitten return and new reality shows

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. After the show, they officially reunited and toured for four years. In 2017, Katona left the group again when she got drunk and hit Hamilton after a performance in Australia. In 2019, Katona appeared in the sixth series of E4 reality series Celebs Go Dating.

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

Personal life

From 2002 to 2004, Katona was married to singer Brian McFadden and they had two daughters. In 2005, she started dating taxi driver Mark Croft, whom she married on 14 February 2007 and had two children. In her autobiography, Still Standing, Katona said she met Croft when he was supplying cocaine to her mother. They divorced in 2011. On 14 September 2014, Katona married former rugby league player George Kay and had her fifth child. On 7 October 2015, Katona announced their separation after he allegedly assaulted her at their home in Crowborough and was subsequently arrested by police. Kay died on 5 July 2019 after an overdose. Despite not living in the United States, Katona endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 US Presidential Election.

Health and drugs abuse

Since 2004, Katona has been in rehab many times for cocaine and alcohol abuse, according to her autobiography, Still Standing. 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. In 2024, Katona publicly discussed undergoing reconstructive surgery to repair a nasal septum perforation and collapse caused by years of cocaine use, with cartilage from her rib used to rebuild her nose.

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

Legal issues

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. 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. 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. On 2 July 2013, Katona filed for bankruptcy again at County Court in Wigan.

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.

Filmography

Television

Bibliography

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References

References

1. Morag Preston. (22 March 2008). "Kerry Katona and friends in the Return of the Bonkbuster". The Times.
2. Everett, Charlotte. (6 September 2022). "Kerry Katona says she never thought she would make 42 as she celebrates birthday". [[Daily Mirror]].
3. McGrath, Nick. (18 February 2012). "Kerry Katona: My family values". The Guardian.
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080227175915/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2006%2F09%2F03%2Fsvghosts03.xml&page=6 Telegraph.co.uk] "Ghost stories". 3 September 2006, p. 6
5. Fletcher, Damien. (21 July 2007). "Kerry's Gold". Daily Mirror.
6. (3 April 2008). "Katona wants to be glamour model again?". [[Digital Spy]].
7. (21 October 2008). "Kerry Katona shows off new boobs". [[Now (UK magazine).
8. (16 July 2013). "Kerry Katona admits to relationship strain". [[New!]].
9. (16 July 2013). "Kerry Katona Says Cancelling Wedding To George Kay Following Bankruptcy Has 'Put A Strain On Us'". [[New!]].
10. (9 July 2012). "Kerry Katona Reveals She's Made 'Biggest Mistake' By Splitting With Steve Alce". [[Huffington Post]].
11. (5 July 2011). "Kerry Katona: 'I'd love to play Coronation Street psycho'".
12. "UK Charts > Atomic Kitten". [[Official Charts Company]].
13. 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.[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2538381.stm BBC News: Atomic Kitten's perfect year]. News.bbc.co.uk, Retrieved 29 July 2006
14. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1742999.stm BBC News: McFadden and Katona tie knot]. News.bbc.co.uk, Retrieved 30 July 2006
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16. (11 March 2014). "Nothing going on but the Rent for Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton". [[Johnston Press]].
17. {{cite episode. ITV]]
18. Busk-Cowley, Mark. (2014). "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!: The Inside Story". [[Bantam Press]].
19. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433315/ "Showbands" IMDB]. Retrieved 17 May 2009
20. "All-Star line-up revealed for third series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins {{!}} Channel 4".
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22. (9 September 2011). "Paddy Wins Celebrity BB!". This is Big Brother.
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25. (18 October 2012). "ITVS to reform pop bands for The Big Reunion". Broadcast.
26. "The 90s are back: reunions from Atomic Kitten, 5ive, and more".
27. (3 October 2022). "Kerry Katona details physical fight with Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton". Yahoo.
28. (23 November 2018). "So what does everyone think of the new series lineup? #coming2019".
29. (16 December 2020). "Kerry Katona and Holly Hagan sign up for Celebs on the Farm". [[Closer (magazine).
30. "Celeb Cooking School".
31. "Kerry Katona joins Wheel of Misfortune".
32. (5 January 2002). "McFadden and Katona tie knot". BBC News.
33. Hellomagazine.com. (8 October 2009). "Westlife. Biography, news, photos and videos".
34. (2007-02-23). "BBC NEWS {{!}} Entertainment {{!}} Kerry Katona has baby girl early".
35. (2008-04-24). "BBC NEWS {{!}} Entertainment {{!}} Reality star Katona gives birth".
36. Beth Hardie. (13 March 2009). "Kerry Katona in tears as spokesman officially confirms divorce". daily mirror.
37. (13 March 2009). "Tears as Kerry Katona announces her marriage is over". Daily Record.
38. (2019-05-08). "Kerry Katona marries George Kay".
39. (2014-04-09). "Kerry Katona Gives Birth To Fifth Child, Welcomes Baby Girl To Partner George Kay".
40. (30 April 2013). "Kerry Katona's fiance George Kay: My three years behind bars". Now.
41. (7 October 2015). "Kerry Katona to divorce third husband after arrest". RTE.
42. (1 July 2016). "Kerry Katona's husband George Kay cleared of assault". BBC News.
43. (6 July 2013). "Kerry Katona: 'Sometimes I think I attract drama'". [[The Guardian]].
44. (15 July 2019). "Kerry Katona's ex-husband George Kay dies after suspected overdose".
45. Spadoni, Shelley. (2024-07-22). "Kerry Katona endorses Donald Trump for US President".
46. (29 October 2008). "Katona and PR guru Clifford split". BBC News.
47. Brook, Stephen. (18 August 2009). "Kerry Katona dropped by Iceland". [[The Guardian]].
48. (13 February 2025). "Kerry Katona's plastic surgeon sees harmful 'surge' in procedure". Daily Record.
49. (21 February 2025). "Kerry Katona's surgeon warns on 'alarming' rise of collapsing cocaine-snouts". Daily Star.
50. (22 March 2018). "Kerry Katona wants to become a life coach and help other people". [[Manchester Evening News]].
51. (19 July 2007). "Katona checks into Priory clinic". BBC.
52. (25 October 2007). "Dyslexic Kerry Katona admits she had help with her new novel". CelebsNow.
53. (22 September 2018). "Kerry Katona tells Katie Price's critics to back off and reveals she's turned her own wild ways around". Daily Mirror.
54. "Shannon Bradshaw Trust – Helping ill children and their Families".
55. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/6900893.stm Katona held captive by armed gang]. BBC News. Retrieved 16 July 2007.
56. (16 July 2007). "Kerry Katona Held By Armed Raiders". [[Sky News]].
57. "Katona 'distraught' after armed robbery". [[ITV News]].
58. (21 August 2008). "Ex-Kitten Katona is made bankrupt".
59. (28 August 2008). "KATONA}}{{Dead link". The London Gazette.
60. (2 July 2013). "Katona files for bankruptcy again".
61. (8 May 2019). "Kerry Katona fined £500 for failing to send her child to school". BBC News.
62. (10 December 2022). "Kerry Katona signs up for extreme new reality show with Love Island and Netflix stars".