English tabloid celebrity mistakes Ebola for boy band

An English reality TV star is reaching a whole new level of notoriety after mistaking the deadly Ebola virus for a boy band in a red carpet interview.

Video of Amy Childs on the red carpet at the MOBO Awards went gone viral overnight after the BBC's Jolyon Rubinstein asked the celebrity star for her thoughts on the Ebola crisis.

"The what?" Childs replied, with a bemused look on her face.

But she quickly composes herself, adding "I might be a fan after tonight. They're going to be amazing."

Rubinstein was filmed grilling a number of famous guests' current affairs knowledge on the night, but gave Childs' response special props by sharing the clip on Instagram.

A self-described beautician and businesswoman, Childs is best known for her role in ITV2 series The Only Way Is Essex and placing fourth on the UK's Celebrity Big Brother in 2011.

She is yet to respond to the social media uproar.