SHE certainly has the wow factor – but it seems TV hopeful Jodie Prenger didn't have the X Factor.
The Blackpool star of BBC's I'd Do Anything has revealed she was turned down for Simon Cowell's rival reality show because of her weight.
While Jodie, 28, currently cuts a curvaceous size 14 the Blackpool lass once topped 18 stone and was a size 2
4 when she faced the acerbic music guru.
"Basically they liked me, but Simon said I was too big," said Jodie who believes she missed out in numerous auditions in the past because of the way she looked.
"I knew it was my weight, I didn't look like a pop star."
Determined not to miss her chance at stardom the talented singer, who was used to entertaining guests at her parents' hotel, got down to the gym and a diet.
Eight stones lighter, after winning Living TVs Biggest Loser, and Jodie is now successfully strutting her stuff every Saturday night in a bid to land the role of Nancy in new West End production of Oliver!
Her rendition of Dolly Parton's Nine-to-Five on last week's show gained her comments of "absolutely wonderful" from the judges.
TreatShe said: "I was elated.
"When you're in this competition, that's what you're in it for, you're here to better yourself."
And fans should be in for a treat again tonight as Newton Drive's very own Nancy belts out another big number.
But Jodie remains tight-lipped on which song she is taking on.
She said: "This week I have got to step into some pretty big shoes – she's an absolute corker of a singer."
"It's a great song to sing, a bit of a rocky ballad. Hopefully I can really act it out and enjoy it."
- Catch Jodie in action tonight on BBC1 at 7.05pm and again on the results show tomorrow at 7.30pm.
The full article contains 323 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
