A NORTH-EAST contestant in ITV's hit show Pop Idol is second favourite to be booted off the show in the first eviction this Saturday.

Zoe Birkett, 16, from Darlington, gained 1.3 million votes from the public to secure herself a place in the final ten hopefuls.

Even harsh judge Simon Cowley described her as sensational, but bookmaker Blue Square has given her odds of 3/1 to be the first evicted in a vote during Saturday's show.

But the bookies' favourite to win, Gareth Gates, has said he thinks Zoe is his nearest rival.

Zoe, of Welbeck Avenue, was chosen out of 100,000 people from all over the country.

She attends Carmel Technology College and studies drama, singing and acting at Stagecoach Theatre Arts School in the town.

The winner of the Pop Idol show will secure a recording contract with RCA Records and a glittering future in the music industry.

Viewers will see how Zoe fairs on Saturday, at 6.05pm, and the result of the vote at 8.15pm.