A NORTH-EAST singer who starred in the first-ever series of Pop Idol has signed up for a second round of reality TV fame by entering the Big Brother house.

Zoe Birkett has become a West End star since appearing alongside Gareth Gates and Will Young in the 2001 show, a forerunner of X Factor.

The 29-year-old, who has links with Darlington and County Durham, has appeared in numerous West End productions, including Hair and Rent.

She was one of three new housemates introduced by the Channel 5 show on Monday (July 14) evening.

Ms Birkett, who starred in the 2012 pantomime Sleeping Beauty at Darlington Civic Theatre, has warned she will have plenty to say about any raunchy antics from her fellow housemates.

In interviews before going into the house, she said: "If I’m not asleep and I hear something going on, I’ll say, in a nice respectful manner, ‘Come on, where’s your morals? Have some respect for other people.’

“There’s a time and a place and it’s not when you’re in a house sharing a room. It makes my skin crawl.”