Ofcom: Tulisa tattoo did not breach broadcasting rules

Tulisa first found chart success in the UK as a member of N-Dubz

Tulisa Contostavlos' signature arm gesture, which she made at the start of every episode of X Factor, did not breach broadcasting rules, Ofcom has ruled.

The broadcasting regulator had received complaints that the singer was promoting her perfume by displaying a tattoo with the words The Female Boss.

But Ofcom ruled that references to Contostavlos's perfume - called TFB by Tulisa - were "appropriately limited".

However, complaints about sister show The Xtra Factor on ITV2 were upheld.

The regulator said that "undue prominence" was given to the perfume on the spin-off, which is presented by Caroline Flack and Olly Murs.

On the 29 October episode of the programme, the two presenters interviewed Tulisa and repeatedly referred to the fragrance.

Flack said: "The Female Boss came out this week, and I've been wearing it all day, by the way."

Murs then responded by saying: "I wondered why you were smelling so nice."

The presenters also mimicked Tulisa's "salute", in which the singer holds her right forearm forward to draw attention to her tattoo.

Ofcom ruled that the Xtra Factor was in breach of broadcasting guidelines on the promotion of products, services and trademarks.

Their ruling stated: "Ofcom considered that, in light of the undue prominence given to the product by the sequence as a whole and, in particular, Olly Murs' endorsement of it, the sequence appeared to promote Tulisa's perfume."

Tulisa Contostavlos was one of three new judges to join X Factor last year, along with Kelly Rowland and Gary Barlow.

The singer first had chart success as a member of hip-hop group N-Dubz, who scored top five hits in the UK with I Need You, Best Behaviour and We Dance On.