Remember way-back-when, to the days before X Factor and Simon, when Saturday nights were dominated by “Nasty Nigel” and his Pop Idol show?

The big climax in 2002 was the final between Will Young, Gareth Gates, Darius Danesh and then-teenager Zoe Birkett. After Will claimed the title, Zoe’s career in musical theatre took off, thanks in part to the platform that Pop Idol had given her.

Now the smiley Northern lass from Darlington is coming down south to Bromley, where she will require all of her acting prowess to convincingly play the wicked queen Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty at the Churchill Theatre, which opens this week.

“I’ve never played an evil character before in a pantomime, this will be my first time!” she said. “I’ve always been the princess in the past, but I’m a singer and I’ve always found the evil queen songs are a bit more gutsy and fiery. I wondered, ‘When am I going to get those roles?’ So when I got this call, I thought, ‘Brilliant!’”

Now 29, Zoe has come a long way since Pop Idol, having performed over the years in Thriller Live, West End Rocks, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Respect La Diva in the West End.

Of her entry into showbiz back in 2002, she says: “I was 16 when I did Pop Idol and my family kept me away from any media, so as far as I was concerned I was just doing what I did at stage school.

“I’m so happy that I did it when I was a kid, because I wasn’t nervous or fearful I just got my songs every week and got excited about singing on national TV.”

The stage career has meant Christmases are traditionally a busy time, so this year will be no different and, in some ways, easier: Zoe now lives in London and will commute to Bromley each day.

“Last year I was in Thriller Live in the West End over Christmas and also did a three-week concert celebrating the music of Tina Turner over in Holland.”

Zoe, who co-stars in Sleeping Beauty with former Coronation Street actor Marc Baylis as the prince and 1980s pop singer Sonia as the good fairy, will keep her strong family tradition flying despite the panto schedule, with mum visiting from the North East to cook the Christmas dinner.

She added: “All my family will all be coming down for Christmas Day and they’ll all be coming to the Boxing Day show this year, so that’ll be nice.”

Sleeping Beauty is at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, from Friday, November 28, to Sunday, January 4. Tickets cost from £15.
Visit www.atgtickets.com/bromley or call 0844 8717620.