FORMER Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett is returning to her home town at the end of the year - to play a pantomime lead role.
She will be treading the boards at Darlington Civic Theatre over Christmas, as the venue stages its Beauty and the Beast production.
Comedy duo the Grumbleweeds will be joining Zoe, who plays the part of Beauty, as the show runs from December 9 to January 22 next year. Zoe shot to fame in 2001 as she reached the final four in the first series of ITV's Pop Idol.
Her debut single, Treat Me Like a Lady, entered the charts at number 12 in 2003, but a follow-up song has yet to materialise.
Last year's pantomime at the Civic Theatre, Peter Pan, set a new box office record, attracting more than 55,000 people.
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