Zoe Birkett: 'They Told Me I Was Too Fat at 16' – The truth behind 2000s Pop Idol

Actress, singer and former Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett opens up about surviving tabloids in the Noughties, what it was really like to be on Pop Idol back in its heyday, and her recent miscarriage while performing on the West End. 00:00 – Welcome & The Three Words: Yes Girl, People Pleaser, Mouldable 01:15 – Thrust into Fame at 16: Pop Idol & Losing Her Authentic Self 04:17 – Surviving 2000s Tabloid Toxicity, Up-Skirting & Body Shaming 07:11 – Changing Her Look: Stripping the Braids & Family Support 11:12 – Looking Back at Pop Idol: Meeting Take That & Shirley Bassey 17:01 – The Truth About Her Teenage Romance with Gareth Gates 20:00 – Remembering Darius Campbell Danesh: A Heroic Act of Protection 23:37 – Industry Neglect, Self-Defence Lessons & Normalizing Harassment 27:03 – Calling Off Her Engagement & Learning to Say No 29:52 – Northern Grit: Handing Out Nightclub Flyers at the Peak of Fame 34:45 – Living with Severe Osteoarthritis & Getting a Full Hip Replacement 41:35 – Reclaiming Her Career: Performing in Moulin Rouge! 4 Months After Surgery 45:25 – Leaving Her Record Deal & 17 Years in the West End 48:20 – Entering Her Second Act: DJing, Boundaries & Turning 40 50:58 – Performing Through Miscarriage as Tina Turner 57:28 – Advice to Her Younger Self: "Don't Rush Yourself" 01:02:13 – Advice for Listener Annie: Coping with Anxiety & Unspoken Trauma If you've got a question or dilemma you'd like Ateh, her celebrity guests and experts to answer, drop her a line at ⁠[email protected]⁠ and make sure to tune in to hear the answer. From HELLO! magazine Producer: Millie Jackson Editor: Juliet Walsh Executive producer: Danielle Lawler Follow @hellomag on Instagram and watch all new episodes on HELLO! magazine's YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices