I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! star Naughty Boy wasn’t always the hit producer that he is today, and before his music career first took off, he had a stint on Deal or No Deal as well as as support from Prince Charles’ charity.
The 40-year-old music producer has worked with some of the greats including pop sensations Britney Spears, Beyonce and Rihanna.
But before he made it in the music industry, the DJ – whose real name is Shahid Khan – lived in the heart of Watford with no more than £10 in his bank account.
The star has previously discussed how his life turned around, particularly after winning £44,000 on a popular ITV game show and getting the helping hand from charity.
Life before music
(Image: Getty Images)
Before he went on to become an international DJ, Naughty Boy did his fair share of part-time jobs at national food chains.
As he lived at home with his family, the music producer took up a position at Burger King which “I got sacked for being rubbish” after which he went on to take on a job at Pizza chain Domino’s.
While he reflected on his time working for the popular food chain in his home town in Hertfordshire, he confessed the delivery position was his last job before he went on the ITV show.
On I’m A Celeb, Naughty Boy said: “That was my last actual job. I got sacked for taking too much time delivering. It once took me two hours. I suppose it was good to learn what’s not for me.”
Deal or No Deal?
(Image: Channel 4)
Back in 2007, the budding music star made the decision to join the show alongside TV host Noel Edmonds where he risked it all to take home the largest cash prize available.
The DJ recalled the life-changing moment with his campmates as he revealed the unusual route he took to get into the music industry.
As his fellow contestants enjoyed a meal together, he confessed: “When I was in Deal or No Deal, the morning of my show I knew I was going to play because I left the window open and two pigeons built a nest under the dressing table overnight and when I woke up the were just nesting there.
“When you speak to the banker, he was trying to haggle me. He was trying to get me to settle on my box.
“My actual box had £35,000. I wanted to take a risk but when I settled on £44,000 I beat him,” Naughty Boy explained.
Puzzled by his unusual story, Paralympian Kadeena Cox asked: “The celebrity version?”
To which he admitted: “No, no, I wasn’t Naughty Boy then. I had £10 in my bank account.”
The Prince’s Trust
(Image: Getty Images)
Prior to his TV appearance, he received a grant of £5,000 from The Prince’s Trust in 2005 in order to kickstart his business.
Months after he took home the money, the reality star set up Naughty Boy Recordings which was a studio that he set up in his parents’ back garden.
Following his impressive win on the ITV show, the music producer went on to put all of his money into his music career in order to pursue his biggest passion in life.
Naughty Boy then went on to switch production studios in West London after he bagged a contract with Sony ATV and Virgin Records.
And within the space of a couple of years, he went on to work with the likes of Chipmunk, Wiley and built a close relationship with Emeli Sandé
Pop star collaborators
(Image: Getty Images)
Since then, the music producer has gone on to work with an exhaustive list of pop star that catapulted him into the music industry.
Among these he has producer or written with Alesha Dixon, JLS, Lily Allen, Alexandra Burke and Jennifer Hudson.
He has also produced for Professor Green, Cheryl Cole, Tinie Tempah, Leona Lewis, Will.I.Am, William Orbit and Katy Perry.
(Image: Getty Images)
But he hasn’t just collaborated with other musicians, as the DJ also worked with Gabirelle and Ed Sheeran on his own music including the hit track Hotel Cabana.
Perhaps one of Naughty Boy’s most memorable tracks he has worked on was with Sam Smith’s 2013 single La La La, which went to number one in a matter of weeks.
He went on to win two MOBOs for Best Single and Best Video for the number one song.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
