TEENAGE singing star Zoe Birkett had her first taste of life as a tabloid victim yesterday.

Just one day after she was voted out of the hit ITV show Pop Idol, Britain's biggest-selling daily published a story about her love life - despite the fact she is only 16.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Zoe said that she was shocked to see the fact she does not have a boyfriend become headline news in The Sun.

She admits to never having a boyfriend but the teenager, who is still at school, was upset that the paper claimed she would be celibate until she was famous.

She said: "I was really angry with what they said. I am only 16, so talking about being celibate is utter nonsense.

"I don't have a boyfriend but that doesn't mean anything. I am just concentrating on my career.

"I suppose this is the sort of thing you have to get used to when you are famous."

Zoe also denied tabloid claims that she is in a relationship with the Pop Idol favourite Gareth Gates.

She said: "We are just friends. I am friends with all the contestants, but Gareth and I were a bit closer because we were in auditions together from the start."

Zoe's performance on the ITV show has earned her praise from another North-East television success story. Comedy duo Diamond and Layton, who won Opportunity Knocks in 1989, contacted The Northern Echo to give her their backing.

They said: "We were thrilled to see another star quality performance from Zoe."

Pete Diamond, from Darlington and Ken Layton, from Hartlepool are still going strong 12 years after their TV success.

They are popular throughout Europe and have won the accolade of being voted the Best Comedy Act in Germany.

Meanwhile, some of Zoe's youngest fans have made her a good luck card to wish her well in her future career.

Carol Musztacs, headteacher at Corporation Road Infant School, in Darlington, said: "We were talking about doing your best and being talented in different ways and then we were talking about Zoe, because she always tries hard and does her best.

"They just wanted to wish her well for the future by making her this card."

l The mother of Pop Idol favourite Gareth Gates has spoken of the rivalry between her and the family of his closest competitor, Will Young.

Wendy Gates, whose son is the bookies choice to win the ITV1 talent search, has accused Young's family of failing to clap for the other competitors during the shows.