WHILE millions of TV viewers are wrapped up in the hype surrounding the Popstars wannabees, a Darlington schoolgirl is bidding for her own singing stardom.

Zoe Birkett, aged 15, has just signed to a local recording label and is hoping to clinch a deal with a major label in the near future.

Zoe, a pupil at Carmel school in Darlington, has been singing and dancing since the age of three. She has already sung before the Prime Minister and royalty and has toured with the National Youth Music Theatre.

"I sang The Christening at the party for Leo Blair's christening," she said. "I met Tony Blair and he was brilliant, a really lovely guy."

Last year she made it to the last 12 out of thousands of hopefuls who auditioned in London to join S Club 7.

"That was amazing," she said. "I've never been in such a big room with so many talented people. But I was only 14, and they said they knocked me out because of my age."

Undeterred, Zoe is now hoping to launch a solo singing career. She said: "I've recorded some dance tracks and ballads with my new producer and manager. I'm hoping to work with him for the next three years, unless something big happens in the meantime."

She named R'n'B stars Whitney Houston and Lauren Hill as her favourite singers. "I love Whitney Houston to bits," she added.

But it is perhaps her mother, Tracy, who has been her biggest influence.

"My mum used to be a professional singer and did a lot of session work," she explained. "She gives me a lot of good advice and tells me what to do and what not to do. She keeps me in line."

Zoe says she also owes a lot to her teachers at Carmel school. "The teachers are very supportive," she said. "They are more like friends than teachers. I have had to take quite a lot of time off to do shows and tour with the NYMT and they have been great about it and helped me catch up on missed lessons."

Her talents are always in demand. She recently performed a two-hour concert at her former school, Firthmoor primary, to raise funds towards sending 22 children on an exchange visit to Finland.

Zoe intends to stay on at school to take A-levels in music, art, Spanish and psychology.

"I'm going to do my A-levels, but what I really want to do is make it as a professional singer." she said.