Ofcom has given X Factor judge Tulisa the green light to continue to make her signature arm gesture to audiences at the start of each show, but has ruled that ITV broke the broadcasting code by promoting her perfume on spin-off the Xtra Factor.

The media regulator launched an investigation into the N-Dubz star’s salute, in which she greets the studio audience and viewers at home by holding her forearm across her chest flashing the tattoo the Female Boss, after complaints that it illegally promotes her new perfume of the same name.

Ofcom investigated whether the display broke strict broadcasting rules on the promotion and reference of commercial products by talent.

The regulator said that the 23-year-old’s move did not give “undue prominence” to her perfume, which is officially named “TFB by Tulisa”, and cleared her to continue making the arm flash.

However, spin-off ITV2 show the Xtra Factor was found to be in breach of Ofcom’s rules because presenters Caroline Flack and Olly Murs overly promoted Tulisa’s perfume.

An edition of the show broadcast on 29 October saw Flack and Murs interviewing Tulisa about the launch of the perfume.

Ofcom was particularly concerned by Murs’ endorsement of the perfume – at one point he says to Tulisa: “I wondered why you were smelling so nice,” and then observes that the perfume is “catching on”.

Murs has landed the Xtra Factor in hot water a second time, for an episode broadcast on 20 November, after Ofcom said that it broke broadcasting rules for illegally promoting his new single.

Promotion during the show included fellow presenter Flack flagging up the launch of the single, called Dance With Me Tonight, as well as crew members repeatedly holding up “two large bright green placards” in shot promoting the launch of the single.

Further promotion included playing the Murs song in the background, Irish brothers Jedward running onto the set carrying one of the promotional placards and then talking about his single and a spoof viewer letter from Molly Burs which promoted the single.

“Taken together, Ofcom considered that the extent and cumulative effect of the references to Olly Murs’ music track and its release were unduly prominent for the product,” Ofcom said.

The show broke two rules of the broadcasting code relating to promotional selling messages and undue prominence.

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X Factor judge Tulisa gets Ofcom’s OK for arm gesture

Frankie Cocozza looks set to extend his 15 minutes of fame into next year at least after being revealed as one of the contestants on the next series of the UK’s ‘Celebrity Big Brother’. Cocozza was notoriously booted out of the current series of the ‘X Factor UK’ this Autumn after allegations about the 19 year-old’s drug use; his replacement, Amelia Lily, is now into this weekend’s grand final though she’s not had an easy ride either, with claims of fixing after her “winning” single was briefly made available online by music retailer Hmv even though the other finalists, Little Mix and Marcus Collins efforts weren’t.

The UK’s Sun newspaper reports that Cocozza is set to pocket an appearance fee of 30k to appear on the show, which now airs on UK network Channel 5 following years on Channel 4. when in the Big Brother house in the New Year, the singer has vowed, “I will s*** someone in the house.” a source for the show told the paper, “He’s not exactly a Hollywood star but everyone knows who he is and he’s bound to cause some mayhem in the house. if nothing else he’ll be good value.”

Elsewhere, Olly Murs has told the Metro newspaper that it would be “a shame” if Cocozza wasn’t invited back to perform at the final show along with the rest of the competition’s finalists; he said, “It would be a shame not to see him back . it is the last night, the final, and we’d like to see Frankie there. We’ll find out at the end of the week.”

Frankie Cocozza – Frankie Cocozza Signs Up For Celebrity Big Brother