DELIGHTED dad Vinnie Crowshaw has spoken for the first time of his hopes for daughter Suzanne after she clinched a place in Britain's newest pop band.

Suzanne Shaw (19), from Bury, looks destined for chart success after being picked for the new pop act featured in the runaway TV success Popstars.

Viewers had to wait until Saturday night (Feb 3) to find out who had been successful. But dad Vinnie, of Dunsters Avenue, Bury, found out late last year when talent judge Nigel Lithgow visited Suzanne's grandmother's house in Radcliffe to break the news.

"We were overwhelmed," said Vinnie. "I'm just glad I already knew when it went out on television."

"If I'd been watching it like everybody else I would have had a heart attack."

Her proud dad, who owns a video recording business, said: "Suzanne's always enjoyed performing, ever since she was three and went on stage in a dance competition.

"She loved it then and has loved it ever since. She has always looked good on camera because she has grown up with it." Despite a stomach complaint on Saturday, which meant she had to miss recording, the former St Gabriel's pupil, who lives with her mum, Janet Kish, is having no problems adjusting to her new life. On Monday (Feb 5), Suzanne flew back to Britain from Norway, where the band have been recording their first single, and into a media frenzie.

Vinnie said: "She is quite level-headed and I think that came across on the show."

"She's always calling us to tell us how things are. Everything seems to be going really well apart from the usual tensions of being in a new band."

"There's nothing guaranteed with these things; they may be flavour of the month one day and then nobody's interested.

"I just hope that they all enjoy it and that they aren't too overawed."

A seasoned performer with All Saints Operatic Society, Elton, Suzanne played the lead role in BBC drama Elidor back in 1994 and has also had parts in TV dramas Holby City and City Central. And as a member of Abba tribute band The Right Stuff, with 35-year-old boyfriend Andrew Warner, Suzanne learnt the basics of performing in a group.

But there have been disappointments along the way, with failed auditions for TV soaps such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street, where Suzanne came close to a part as girlfriend of mechanic Tyrone.

Vinnie hopes that the advice he gave to her then had helped.

"I always used to say to her 'Look, you're going to get it, this is the business that you're in'."

"I told her they were looking for the right person for the right part. It's not always down to ability."

"She accepted this and I think that's how she came across on the programme."

Vinnie played down suggestions in the national press that Suzanne had been bullied at school for her fame. "All it amounted to was a few jealous comments," he said.

And he paid credit to Suzanne's dance, drama and singing teachers.

"I think that the work of all the people around her that helped her get this far should be recognised."

"She's always had confidence, there's no doubt about that. That's what is needed."