TALENTED singer Suzanne Shaw was looking forward to a big pop career today after winning a place in Britain's newest band.

The 19-year-old appeared on the TV show Popstars and was picked to star in the new band which has already been tipped to reach number one with the debut single Pure and Simple, due for release on March 12.

More than 10 million viewers saw her accepted into the group and Suzanne, of Orwell Close, Bury, said later: "Is this really happening to me? The whole thing is crazy."

The former St Gabriel's RC High School pupil was visited at her home by one of the three talent judges, Nigel Lythgoe.

He told her she would join Wigan girl Kym Marsh, 24, Danny Foster, 22, Noel Sullivan, 20, and Myleene Klass, 22, in the band.

They have, according to claims, been working at Stargate Studios in Tronheim, Norway.

But up until the Saturday announcement, a veil of secrecy had been thrown over the eventual five winners.

Viewers were glued to their screens over the past month as the show followed the fortunes of more than 3,000 wannabe stars.

Bubbly Suzanne began to emerge as a frontrunner for the band. She is already a member of Abba tribute group "The Right Stuff" and she appeared in the BBC children's drama Elidor in 1994.

She is known to friends as Suzanne Crowshaw, but has shortened it to Shaw for her showbiz activities.

Mr Lynthgoe, who chose Suzanne together with Paul Adam, director of A&R at Polydor and Nicki Chapman, manager of the singer Billie Piper, gave her the news in person.

She was with her mother, Janet Kish, who said she was not allowed to discuss Suzanne with the press.

In a tense build-up, Mr Lythgoe said: "I'll be totally honest with you. You split the judges decision in truth. You and another girl were brilliant but we had to judge you against somebody else."

Delighted

He added: "I think everyone was delighted with the eventual decision."

The man dubbed "Nasty Nigel" for his cutting remarks to would-be popstars who did not make the grade, then handed her a small black bag and said: "It's the key to the house. Welcome to the band."

Suzanne squealed with delight and shouted: "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. Really? Thank you so much."

She was later shown packing copies of ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell's autobiography 'If Only' and Andrew Morton's controversial 'Posh and Becks', which chronicles the lives of Victoria and David Beckham, as she made her way to a secret house in London.

Suzanne is dating 35-year-old guitarist Andrew Warner, who plays in the Bury-based band, The Right Stuff.

She told one Sunday newspaper she did not fancy either of the two lads in the group and was reported to have said: "Yuk!"

They have reportedly been given a £40,000 advance fee and will receive £500 per week in expenses from record company Polydor.

The single 'Pure and Simple' would be a version of a song released by female-based Girl Thing last year.

Suzanne said: "We're a new breed of pop band. People can put us on the spot any time and we can sing."

A similar version of the television show was first aired in New Zealand where the all-girl group True Bliss went straight to number one.