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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Jacqueline Jossa's fight against odds - jailed dad, sibling deaths and cheat rumours

After rising to fame thanks to nabbing the role of troubled teen Lauren Branning on EastEnders in 2010, Jacqueline Jossa has cemented her status as one of the country's favourite celebrities over the years.

With her doting husband Dan Osborne and their two adorable young daughters, the one-time Queen of the Jungle, 29, often shares snippets of her idyllic life with her 3.4million Instagram followers.

But things haven't always been so rosy for the former I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! winner.

From being the main breadwinner as a teenager following her dad's imprisonment, to constantly having to deal with rumours about her infidelity, we take a look all the challenges the star has overcome on her journey to becoming the nation's sweetheart.

Jacqueline Jossa transforms into Frozen's Elsa for her latest role as she stars in ITV's All Star Musical (ITV)

Family breadwinner

After landing her dream role on the BBC soap, Jacqueline went on to win numerous awards and command a six-figure salary as became a household name thanks to EastEnders.

However, just two years after first appearing in Albert Square, the soap star's life took a dramatic turn off-camera, when her dad was sentenced to four years behind bars in 2012.

John Jossa was found guilty of stealing almost £500,000 of tax payers' money when he was head of finance at Enfield Council in north London.

Jacqueline with her mum Selina and dad John (Instagram)

Jacqueline, then 19, sat in the public gallery and cried as he was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of obtaining money by deception and two counts of fraud.

Sentencing Judge Nicholas Cooke QC told the Old Bailey: "In addition to being fully dishonest, he's a fool.

"Your offending will have real consequences to local residents in terms of reduced services or a decline in payments for those that live in the area."

The star reportedly used her soap earnings to help support her family (BBC / Jack Barnes)

It was reported at the time that the mum-of-two stepped up to provide for her family following her dad's conviction and is even said to have bought her parents their home in South East London.

Sibling tragedy

Jacqueline's arrival in the world was considered a blessing and a "miracle", following two heartbreaking family tragedies.

The star's mum Selina, 65, and her father John sadly lost two baby boys years before she gave birth to Jacqueline.

The actress has previously spoken about the death of her two siblings, one to cot death and the other to an illness caused by lack of oxygen at birth.

The star with her parents, daughter Mia and sister Katrina (Collect)

"Her parents Selina and John went through this huge loss and somehow found the strength to try again and Jac was born," a source revealed during the star's stint on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

"In many ways she is seen as a miracle child. Of course the family have never forgotten what happened and it makes Jacqueline even more grateful for her own ­children and also the need to seize the day and ­appreciate life."

Jacqueline was nervous ahead of becoming a mother (Instagram / jacjossa)

Jacqueline's family history meant she was understandably anxious and apprehensive when pregnant with her own children.

"There’s no reason to think that would ever happen to me as there’s no hereditary link. But it’s such an awful thing to go through and I’ve seen how it has affected my mum," she said when preparing to give birth.

"It’s hard not to worry when you have a baby. It’s a nerve-racking time."

Cheating rumours

Jacqueline settled down in her early twenties - becoming a mum and marrying Dan Osborne in June 2017.

Jac and Dan have two daughters, while he has son Teddy from a previous relationship (Instagram)

The reality TV star shares seven-year-old Ella and three-year-old Mia with the former TOWIE star - who is is also a father to eight-year-old Teddy Osborne from a previous relationship.

However, it hasn't always been the smoothest ride, and Dan and Jacqueline's relationship has often been plagued by rumours of infidelity on the dad-of-three's part.

Over the years, the Essex native he's denied cheating with Love Island stars Gabby Allen and Alexandra Cane and having a threesome with his Big Brother co-stars Natalie Nunn and Chloe Ayling.

Jacqueline had therapy to save marriage to Dan after his cheating (Instagram)

In 2020 - when the couple were rumoured to be on a break - Dan admitted to cheating on the mother of his daughters in the past.

Dan told The Sun : "I've made mistakes, yeah. I've done things I shouldn't have done. Me and Jac have spoken about that and she has forgiven me.

"I know in the past I’ve denied things when they’re not true, then when something has been true, I probably just kept my mouth shut. I was a different person."

Jacqueline has previously addressed her husband's cheating accusations on ITV's Lorraine after being crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2019.

Jacqueline has stood by her man (Twitter)

The mum-of-two said: "I want to hit a restart button. It’s been two years of me basically giving him hell and it’s not like he’s got away lightly at all.

"He knows he’s done wrong."

But in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here it was reported that Dan had once had a threesome with Chloe Ayling and US reality TV star Natalie Nunn, which he denied.

He hit back against the claims, tweeting in December 2019: "So after weeks, months, years of constant articles & rumours, some true, some very untrue. I want to publicly say, I know I have made mistakes, we all do as humans, but I've made some that have almost cost me my family.

The couple appear to have moved on and appear to be blissfully happy (Jacqueline Jossa/Instagram)

He continued: "I have seriously learnt from these massively, so I want to publicly apologise to my beautiful wife and my family for the mistakes I've made.

"I am the luckiest man in the world to have what I have with Jacqueline and my three incredible children and I will spend the rest of my life being the best husband and dad that I can be.

"Jac, myself and our families are excited for the future, one filled with love and happiness together.

He concluded: "We truly appreciate everyone that has supported us as a couple, we are ending this year stronger than ever."

It seems Dan has kept true to his word, with the couple indeed seeming stronger than ever and blissfully happy in their stunning Essex mansion with their two daughters.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.

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