Inside Jacqueline Jossa’s challenging upbringing including jailbird dad and sibling deaths

Jacqueline Jossa has been on cloud nine since her recent I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! win, despite the resurface of claims about her husband Dan Osborne’s alleged infidelity. 

And while she’s tipped to reap a load of benefits from her triumph, the Queen of the Jungle, 27, has fought against the odds since her younger years. 

During her challenging upbringing, the actress dealt with her father John going to prison for fraud, coped with the loss of her two brothers before she was born, and financially supported her family with her reported six-figure EastEnders salary.

Inside Jacqueline Jossa’s challenging upbringing: The Queen of The Jungle has fought against the odds since her younger years (pictured last year with daughter Ella and mother Selena)

Ahead of her stint, the media personality revealed she aimed to dispel misconceptions about her by joining the line-up, claiming: ‘People think I’m a doormat’.

Jacqueline’s commitment and drive in the jungle is said to have stemmed from the death of her two late brothers when they were babies.

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

The boys both died before Jacqueline was born and when she arrived her parents called her their ‘Rainbow baby’ following their past tragedy. 

Early beginnings: Jacqueline pictured as a baby with older sister Katrina

Early beginnings: Jacqueline pictured as a baby with older sister Katrina

Success: The soap star, 27, has been on cloud nine since her recent I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! win

Success: The soap star, 27, has been on cloud nine since her recent I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! win

Difficult: During her challenging upbringing, the actress dealt with her father John going to prison for fraud (pictured with Selena and father John on Sunday)

Difficult: During her challenging upbringing, the actress dealt with her father John going to prison for fraud (pictured with Selena and father John on Sunday)

Sources close to the Bexley native shared her need to ‘appreciate life’ is why she was ‘committed to not giving up in the jungle’, with insiders claiming her mother Selena, 63, hails her as a ‘miracle’. 

Following on from her family history, the doting mother – who shares Mia, 17 months, and Ella, four, with husband Dan, 28 – previously admitted she feared when she couldn’t feel her youngest daughter moving during her second pregnancy.

She told The Mirror at the time: ‘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. It’s hard not to worry when you have a baby. It’s a nerve-racking time.’

Hard-working: The star coped with the loss of her two brothers before she was born (with Ella, four, and Mia, 17 months)

Hard-working: The star coped with the loss of her two brothers before she was born (with Ella, four, and Mia, 17 months)

Breadwinner: She financially supported her family with her reported six-figure EastEnders salary (pictured as Lauren Branning in June 2013)

Breadwinner: She financially supported her family with her reported six-figure EastEnders salary (pictured as Lauren Branning in June 2013)

Last year Jacqueline’s older sister Katrina, 36, ran the London Marathon and raised £4,000 for the Lullaby Trust.

The charity provides advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support to help stop sudden infant deaths. 

Jacqueline rose to prominence on BBC One’s EastEnders, where she played troubled teenager Lauren Branning from 2010 until early 2018.

Believing to be raking in six figures for her role each year, the TV star’s captivating portrayal earned her the Best Newcomer award at 2012’s NTAs, as well as the Best Actress prize at the Inside Soap Awards the following year.

Troubled: Jacqueline's world came crashing down when her beloved father John (pictured earlier in the week) was jailed for four years over stealing £500,000 in July 2012

Troubled: Jacqueline’s world came crashing down when her beloved father John (pictured earlier in the week) was jailed for four years over stealing £500,000 in July 2012

While she boasted a successful career at the tender age of 17, Jacqueline’s world came crashing down when her beloved father John was jailed for four years over stealing nearly £500,000 of taxpayers money in July 2012.

John, 65, abused his position as head of finance at Enfield Council in north London and created false invoices and lied about his wife working for the council and paid money into her account.

Proving to be a difficult time, Jacqueline broke down in tears as she witnessed her father pleading guilty to three offences of dishonesty of for fiddling with council expenses.

He siphoned off a total £491,088.35 into his own account over a period of four years between 2006 and 2010. 

Holding everyone together: Jacqueline rose to prominence on BBC One's EastEnders, where she played troubled teenager Lauren from 2010 until early 2018 (pictured on the show)

Holding everyone together: Jacqueline rose to prominence on BBC One’s EastEnders, where she played troubled teenager Lauren from 2010 until early 2018 (pictured on the show)

John – who was made redundant in 2009 – pretended his wife had worked for the council and paid more than £42,000 into their account when no such work had ever been done.

He also fiddled with invoices from recruitment firm Adecco, creating fake ones and processing genuine ones that had yet to be signed off following its work for the council – directing more than £448,000 into his pocket.

The court heard that he invested most of the money into investment schemes but fell victim to boiler rooms scams that promised high returns but ended up losing all of it. When Enfield council launched a court action against him only £25,000 was recovered.

Amid the drama, brave Jacqueline is believed to have financially and emotionally supported her family, and reportedly bought her parents’ home in south east London with her income, according to The Mirror.

Pushing through: The media personality has had to deal with the resurface of claims about her husband Dan Osborne's alleged infidelity (pictured on Sunday)

Pushing through: The media personality has had to deal with the resurface of claims about her husband Dan Osborne’s alleged infidelity (pictured on Sunday)

Following her exit from EastEnders, Jacqueline focused her attention towards being a mother, and even shared her personal experiences on her widely-followed YouTube channel. 

In the romance department, Jacqueline and Dan’s marriage has been plagued with rumours of cheating on his part.

During her jungle stint, it was revealed that her co-star Myles Stephenson was convinced his ex Gabby Allen had an affair with ex-TOWIE star Dan last year. 

Dan was accused of cheating with Love Island star Gabby during a holiday in Marbella in April 2018, which both stars have strenuously denied. 

Cheating doesn’t necessarily have to mean sleeping with one another, but could relate to some level of extra-marital intimacy.  

At the time, Jacqueline was pregnant with her second child, and Dan had temporarily moved out of their family home. 

It was recently reported that Jacqueline had contacted Gabby around the time of the cheating rumours, asking if she had slept with her husband.

Last month, the reality star out at ‘boring’ infidelity rumours in an interview with heat magazine.   

Claims: During her jungle stint, it was revealed that her co-star Myles Stephenson was convinced his ex Gabby Allen had an affair with ex-TOWIE star Dan last year (pictured in 2018)

Claims: During her jungle stint, it was revealed that her co-star Myles Stephenson was convinced his ex Gabby Allen had an affair with ex-TOWIE star Dan last year (pictured in 2018)

Rumours: To make matters worse, Dan's CBB co-star Chloe Ayling (pictured) claimed they had a threesome with fellow housemate Natalie Nunn last year

Rumours: To make matters worse, Dan’s CBB co-star Chloe Ayling (pictured) claimed they had a threesome with fellow housemate Natalie Nunn last year

To make matters worse, Dan’s CBB co-star Chloe Ayling claimed they had a threesome with fellow housemate Natalie Nunn last year – a rumour he vehemently denies.

The father-of-three has revealed he is seeking legal advice against Chloe for the claims which he has repeatedly rubbished yet Natalie has remained silent. 

He slammed ‘no morals’ Chloe after she claimed she enjoyed a sex session with him and Bad Girls Club star Natalie in a hotel room following a drunken night out in London

Despite the rumours, Jacqueline and Dan are said to have turned over a new leaf as they are reportedly planning to renew their vows in a second wedding, two years after their first.

Active: The father-of-three has revealed he is seeking legal advice against Chloe for the claims which he has repeatedly rubbished yet Natalie has remained silent

Active: The father-of-three has revealed he is seeking legal advice against Chloe for the claims which he has repeatedly rubbished yet Natalie has remained silent

A source told The Sun: ‘Jacqueline feels refreshed by her jungle experience, and doesn’t want anything to detract from it. 

‘Her and Dan had a frank chat and decided to start with a clean slate. She really loves him, and their girls, and wants to make things work.

‘But equally, she’s found an inner strength she didn’t realise she had in the jungle, so has warned him any more indiscretions and he’s in trouble.’

MailOnline has contacted Dan and Jacqueline’s representatives for comment at the time of publication. 

For support with child bereavement call the Lullaby Trust on 0808 802 6868 or email [email protected].  

Smitten: The couple are said to have turned over a new leaf as they are reportedly planning to renew their vows in a second wedding, two years after their first (pictured)

Smitten: The couple are said to have turned over a new leaf as they are reportedly planning to renew their vows in a second wedding, two years after their first (pictured)