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What happened to X Factor bad boy Frankie Cocozza? Where the lothario is now after a CBB stint, famous flings and £200K booze blowout

BBG News

At only 18 years old, he was known as the rebellious contestant on The X Factor, famous for his crude language, messy hair, and a tattoo displaying the names of seven past romantic partners on his lower back, which he confidently flaunted during his performance for millions of viewers in his audition.

In 2011, Frankie Cocozza quickly stood out in the ITV talent competition. Under the guidance of Gary Barlow, he advanced to the live rounds, but was ultimately eliminated due to bragging about his drug-fueled sexual encounters involving cocaine.

At just a young adult age, the musician publicly expressed remorse as he acknowledged his life had spiraled out of balance. Meanwhile, Gary from Take That voiced deep disappointment over Frankie squandering a valuable chance.

Even after exiting the show under controversial circumstances, Frankie leveraged his notoriety through multiple appearances on reality TV shows and attention-grabbing actions.

After a period away from the public spotlight, he found himself employed at a construction site earning £7.50 per hour following many years of high-spirited living and spending approximately £200,000 on alcohol.

Currently, Frankie resides peacefully in Australia – with TopMob chronicling the celeb’s transformation from reality TV material to Australian living.

It’s reported that Frankie was removed from The X Factor following his open discussion about drug use with the show’s production team.

Later on, he admitted openly: ‘To be straightforward, I struggle with drug addiction, specifically cocaine. That’s me. I can’t hide it. I’m drawn to it. I apologize, but that’s the truth.’

During his tenure on the program, the performer stirred up controversy, and during a stint on the spin-off show Xtra Factor, he made a lewd comment, stating he had “been intimate” with Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan following photos of them kissing.

In a conversation with hosts Olly Murs and the late Caroline Flack, he admitted, “I had the chance to meet her… I was intimate with her,” followed by an immediate apology, “I apologize, I probably shouldn’t have shared that.

Holly was deeply embarrassed by the comment and revealed to Daily Star much later, “At that moment, Frankie was incredibly popular, the notorious X Factor contestant, a topic of national discussion. That evening, he happened to be my date.

It’s common knowledge that an incident occurred between us, which included an intimate moment and a public display of affection outside this building. Subsequently, photographs capturing these moments were published on the cover of The Daily Star newspaper.

However, I hadn’t anticipated the events that unfolded that evening, as Frankie was conducting a live interview on The Xtra Factor.

In 2022, ten years after the incident, Frankie asserted that the reality star and her team had compensated him a substantial £1,100 for orchestrating the kiss.

In an interview on The James Smith Podcast, he mentioned: “Now, there’s this charming girl, and she truly is charming. She’s a darling, and she told me, ‘Frank, I’ve been discussing this with my manager, and essentially, they’re prepared to hand you £1500 in cash if we can take a photo of us pretending to get off each other outside.’

Are you joking around? It’s just the first week of X Factor for me, and I haven’t made any money yet, correct? That £1500 was absolutely astounding, almost unbelievable.

He went on to say, “Step outside, because here comes an individual who seems rather scruffy and is driving a less-than-impressive vehicle. He says to you, ‘I have only £1100 to give; I will provide you with £400 in the form of a check.’

Only to claim the cheque later bounced. TopMob have contacted Holly’s reps for comment. 

After leaving the X Factor in 2011, Frankie issued a statement saying: “I want to express my apologies to Gary, my fellow contestants, and everyone who supported me by voting for me. However, starting from today, I will no longer be participating in The X Factor.

In the midst of the whirlwind that’s become my reality on this show, I find myself straying from the path and crossing lines outside the bounds of competition rules. It’s become clear to me that my actions no longer align with the values and spirit of this platform. Consequently, I feel it’s only fair that I step down gracefully and relinquish my position.

I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have stood by me, cheering me on every step of the way. Your unwavering support has been an essential source of inspiration, and I am truly grateful for each and every one of you.

He too had to quickly clear up misunderstandings concerning his tattoo, explaining that the women merely stopped by the bar he worked at during their vacation in Crete, as they refuted any claims of having slept with him.

In a moment fueled by alcohol, the women confessed that they consented to having their names permanently tattooed on his lower body as a daring challenge between two groups of Scottish university students.

After the contestant’s assertions on The X Factor, numerous individuals found it necessary to contact their relatives and partners to assure them that no sexual encounters had taken place between them and the contestant.

Natasha Hendry, Emma Dodds, Cara Dolan, and Roxanne Fowler from West Calder (near Edinburgh) got tattoos on the same side of their faces, while Rachel Cathro, Jenna Robb, and Ailsa Kane from Dundee had tattoos inked on the opposite side.

At that moment, Roxanne confided in TopMob saying, ‘Had we known he’d reveal it globally, we wouldn’t have done it. It’s appalling to consider anyone might trust us – or even all of us four – over such allegations.’

After achieving some but not extensive success as a solo performer, he later formed the temporary pop rock group known as The Telescreen.

Although the band hasn’t been active since 2015 and Frankie hasn’t put out new music for quite some time, even with fans’ requests, he continues to identify himself as a ‘music creator’.

After achieving his recent fame, Frankie earned an estimated £30,000 in 2011 for participating in Celebrity Big Brother. He ended up finishing in a commendable second position, trailing slightly behind Denise Welch.

Later, he made an appearance on Celebs Go Dating in 2017, sharing the spotlight with Charlotte Dawson. However, their romance didn’t last long beyond the conclusion of filming as it swiftly lost momentum.

In response to their breakup, Les Dawson’s daughter criticized a singer, alleging that she had been exploited merely to secure additional broadcast time.

She informed Star magazine, “I no longer communicate with him. Our bond was strong, as evident from our time together on Celebs Go Dating; it was authentic and sincere.

However, indicating that she suspected he was merely acting for the cameras, Charlotte commented, “I wouldn’t have thought he was the type to play up for the spotlight. It was quite unexpected and dreadful.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but confess, even though I called him an “idiot” and “stupid,” there’s a tender corner of my heart reserved for the X Factor sensation, Frankie.

She confessed that if they met the next day, it’s likely we’d spend the night together. Following that, she’d likely express her anger and ask him to leave.

Frankie confessed that he was resolute about returning to work, as he found himself financially strapped following a hiatus in the entertainment industry and the need to earn a living.

In 2017, he shared with The Mirror that he enjoys working on construction sites. Despite all the hassle, it’s worth it because it brings him joy. He mixes mortar for the plasterers, which he finds entertaining. It gives him a purpose to start his day.

Not only did the celebrity disclose an astonishing fact – he had splurged a massive sum of around 200 thousand pounds on alcohol – but following a wasteful shopping frenzy, he found himself virtually penniless, having only five pounds left in his account.

He mentioned that he hadn’t anticipated its conclusion. He splurged everything, including Fred Perry apparel and alcohol (not to mention other unmentioned expenses).

However, the artist openly shared about enduring some very difficult periods in his life. These hardships included losing his dear aunt Helen Cope to cancer and tragically, his close friend Connor Saunders, who was only 19, being fatally attacked without cause.

He expressed that he numbed his sorrow with alcohol, leading him into a state of deep sadness, stating, “I tried to hide it by losing myself, and in doing so, only worsened the situation.

In a significant change, he has established a fresh lifestyle in Australia, and his recent photos on Instagram portray a polished, clean-cut image that stands in stark contrast to his past with The X Factor.

Frankie is now dating lingerie model Emma Stubbs. 

Although he hasn’t produced new music for nearly a decade, he frequently posts updates on his social media platforms, and yet, he is still recognized as a musician.

Prior to this, he was married to Bianca Murphy – with whom he shares six-year-old son Frankie Jr.

Frankie and his former partner Bianca, who parted ways in 2022 following four years as a couple, reconnected shortly after Frankie relocated overseas. They got married in May 2018 in Brighton, and the subsequent year saw the arrival of their son.

According to The Sun, Frankie and Bianca continue to maintain a friendly relationship due to their shared concern for Frankie Jr. A source revealed, “Their romance was once passionate, but it gradually cooled down.

‘They have remained on good terms for the sake of their son, Frankie Jr, but have both moved on.’

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2025-07-20 16:53

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