Life a whirlwind for Siobhan

Saturday 23rd September 2006, 7:16PM BST.

The 22-year-old fashion student made it to the final of the Graham Norton-hosted BBC primetime show which finished on Saturday evening and has been living a whirlwind ever since.

She said: “I’ve been in meetings all week, discussing record contracts and trying to find the right one for me. I can’t go into too much detail but it’s very exciting.”

Despite finishing third in the competition, which was won by 23-year-old Connie Fisher from Pembrokeshire, Siobhan says it was an amazing and life-changing experience.

And she has no regrets about taking part in the programme.

She said: “When I first went for the audition I thought it would just be a good experience. I had no idea I would go as far as I did.

“It has been the most amazing experience of my life and I don’t think I could have learnt so much about myself so quickly doing anything else.”

Since the programme finished she spent three days back in Lichfield with her family and managed to squeeze in a visit to her old school The Friary on Tuesday.

But then it was back to London for the young starlet for yet more meetings with record companies.

“I really want to pursue a recording career,” she said. “I’m hoping for nice, easy-listening style music. Eva Cassidy is a great inspiration to me. I hope to be able to put a record out soon.”

But she is keeping her feet on the ground and won’t be forgetting about her friends back home.

She added: “I just want to thank everyone for supporting me through the competition. It meant so much to know that so many people were rooting for me back home.”

Winner of the competition Connie will have to cover eight shows a week after the alternate Maria dropped out of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new stage production of the musical.

Emma Williams had been contracted to share the role with the winner of the BBC TV contest.

But she is said to have been angered after her part in the musical was downgraded.

A statement from Lloyd Webber and Williams said: “Connie will now play all eight performances a week, unless indisposed.”



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.