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Zoe
Full Name: Zoe Birkett
Age: 29
Home: Durham
Status: Single
Job: Musical theatre actress, former Pop Idol star
ABOUT ZOE
Zoe was catapulted in to the public eye in 2002 at the age of 16 when she reached the live finals ITV talent contest Pop Idol, starring Simon Cowell: “I was the little podgy kid with the dreadlocks”. She was voted off in fourth place, but was the highest placing female contestant.
After Pop Idol, Zoe signed to Simon Fuller’s 19 Recordings, and released her debut single, ‘Treat Me Like A Lady’. Unfortunately it only reached a chart peak of number 12, and she was dropped. She now works in theatre, with credits including Priscilla: Queen of the Desert and Thriller: Live.
Zoe is very close to her “bonkers” family who she credits with keeping her “humble and sane”; she “runs every little thing past them, and if they don’t agree, then I won’t do it”. Since leaving home, she has always lived alone and can’t imagine sharing a house, even if she gets married. She claims she’s the “worst snorer in the world”.
Zoe is passionate about life, describing herself as “a massive joker who lives and breathes music”, “a real life walking Pocahontas”, a “gay man trapped inside a woman’s body” and the British version of Beyoncé. She tries hard not to ever be negative – her mantra is: you’re born and you die and it’s all about the middle bit and what you do with it.”
“Being funny” and having a “good energy which can lift other people’s moods” are Zoe’s best traits. Her worst is that she gets bored quickly and always needs people to bounce off – she has “absolutely no patience” and thinks that could be problematic in the house.
When it comes to men, Zoe has a type; tanned skin, dark hair with tattoos. She had a six-year romance with Big Brother 6 winner Anthony Hutton, but hasn’t had any serious relationships since. Zoe has always been faithful but admits to being the dumper in her relationships.
She gets on best with positive and interesting people who “aren’t in the same business “as her, and would struggle to get on with “beige people” and those who “don’t grab life by the horns”.
Zoe thinks she’ll be a fun, energetic housemate who is full of banter, but although she believes it’s possible she can win Big Brother, she acknowledges it’ll be harder for her joining halfway through: “People have made relationships and the public probably already have their favourites.”