Former Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett brought the house down at Take That's Circus Live concert at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Tuesday night. The 41-year-old North East performer joined Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald on stage to deliver a stunning rendition of 'Relight My Fire', heating up a damp and dreary evening on Wearside.
A Star Since Pop Idol
Zoe first shot to fame in 2002 when she finished fourth in the inaugural series of Pop Idol, behind Darius Danesh, Gareth Gates, and winner Will Young. Since then, she has maintained a steady career, performing worldwide and landing lead roles in musicals such as Rock of Ages, The Bodyguard, and most recently, Tina. Her voice is now heard daily by millions as the jingle for Trevor Nelson's Radio 2 show.
The Circus Live 2026 Tour
Zoe is currently touring the UK as a special guest on Take That's Circus Live 2026 tour, her biggest role to date. After keeping the gig a secret for months following a successful audition, she is now enjoying performing at some of the country's largest stadiums. The tour kicked off at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton on May 29, followed by Coventry, before arriving at a rain-soaked Stadium of Light.
Fans braved heavy downpours outside and in the standing area during opening act Belinda Carlisle's set, but the rain stopped as second support act The Script warmed up the crowd. Blue skies emerged in time for Take That's grand entrance. Zoe made her first appearance early in the show as the trio moved from the B stage to the main stage, but her standout moment came later when she descended onto the stage to sing 'Relight My Fire' with the band.
With powerhouse vocals that filled the night sky, Zoe delivered a performance as fiery as the pyrotechnics around her. The Stadium of Light crowd roared with approval, and Take That acknowledged her with cheers at the end of the show.
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