SHE has shared the stage with some of the country's brightest talents, but Zoe Birkett last week returned to her hometown to open a pizza restaurant.
The star of West End musical Thriller Live visited Darlington to reopen the Pizza Hut restaurant following refurbishment. She was joined by local theatre group Stagecoach, the same group she had been a member of when she was a young hopeful
Miss Birkett first came to the public attention as a contestant on Pop Idol in 2001, in the same competition that produced Will Young, Gareth Gates and Darius Danesh. Finishing in the final four, she then toured with Will and Gareth and has since launched a successful career.
She said: "I love coming to Pizza Hut. The newly refurbished restaurant looks amazing. I'm eating here later on with my family. I always go for a Pan base - usually half Hawaiian and half Meat Feast."
Pizza Hut has invested nearly £1.35m in the refurbishment of its ten restaurants in the North East, the first region to receive the new look and menu additions in the country.
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