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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Alan Johnson

Pop Idol's Zoe Birkett looks unrecognisable more than two decades on from hit ITV show

Pop Idol's Zoe Birkett is currently starring in Moulin Rouge! The Musical and looks unrecognisable from her time on the ITV talent show, which aired 21 years ago.

Back in 2001, the now 37-year old from County Durham finished in fourth place in the first series of Simon Fuller -created series – behind winner Will Young, runner-up Gareth Gates and the late Darius Danesh, who died age 41 earlier this year.

Since 2009 she has played the role of Arabia in the musical, before making her debut as the lead Satine in May this year. However, her time in the West End is coming to an end later this week.

Addressing her 42,000 Instagram followers in a video on Monday, the singer said: "It's the final week for us original OGs at Moulin Rouge! The Musical in London's West End."

Zoe has starred in Moulin Rouge since 2009 (Instagram)
Zoe finished fourth on Pop Idol - one position lower than the late Darius Danesh (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

She continued: "It's a sad week. I'm going to be doing lots of posts, lots of throwbacks. Enjoy."

The star then posted a series of snaps of herself looking chic in a black beret over blonde-highlighted tresses, which she complemented with a turtle neck top of the same colour, featuring leather straps around her midriff.

She completed her look with black leather trousers and a pair of Doc Martens – a far cry from her ruffled-hair, bright dress looks of yesteryear in the contest judged by Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Neil Fox.

Zoe Birkett looks unrecognisable from her Pop Idol days (Instagram)

Following her time on Pop Idol, Zoe released a single called Treat Me Like a Lady, which scored a number 12 hit in the charts.

She was quickly dropped from her label, 19 Recordings, following the 'flop', however.

In 2014 she made a brief return to the limelight when she entered the Big Brother house, finishing in ninth place.

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