IT'S a long way from the Daily Echo Star Trail talent show to Top of the Pops, but singer Keedie has shown wannabe stars the way.

Tipped as the new Charlotte Church and clothed in white, former Star Trail finalist Keedie duets with Blue's pop heart-throb Duncan James on the recent number two hit I Believe My Heart, the theme from Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Woman In White.

And this week she signed a seven-figure record deal with the mighty EMI Classics label.

"I can still remember her. She was really good even though she was still very young," says regular Star Trail judge and the Echo's deputy entertainment editor, Hilary Porter.

"She had a very poppy image, quite trendy, and a very strong voice. It's good to know I can still spot 'em!"

Keedie also made a big impression on Star Trail producer Guy Thomas, who instantly recalls her mesmerising vocal range.

"She had this great pop voice then at the turn of a switch she took on this operatic material," he says.

Back in 1998, Keedie - then using her full name Keedie Babb - came third in the Echo's enduringly popular talent contest that feeds into the British Resorts Association national final, which Keedie returned to win in 2002 with a stunning performance that combined pop and opera.

"She was only 16 or 17 when she took part in Star Trail, but she was so different to the other acts. She gave a stunning performance and ended up representing Bournemouth in the national final that year as we had problems with the winner and runner-up."

Now EMI is hoping the 22-year-old Wolverhampton-born singer can take classical music to a younger audience, following the success of artists such as Hayley Westenra, Jamie Cullum and Simon Cowell's opera act, Il Divo.

Brought up in Paignton, Devon, Keedie effectively left school at 14 to follow her singing dreams and regularly sang outside pubs and clubs from the age of 12. Her builder dad - who Christened her after his love of singer Kiki Dee - drove her up and down the country to any venue that would have her.

"My first memory is singing along to Maria Callas on the television and giving it the operatic bit," she said recently.

"I was three years old. I've no idea why, but singing has always come completely naturally to me. My ambition is to be number one in the pop charts and the classical charts, ideally at the same time. That's been my dream since I was three-years-old. Now that it's happening, you won't be able to shut me up."

It has been reported her first album will feature both classical and contemporary material - from Puccini to Madonna.

"Keedie's a one-off," says Barry McCann, managing director of EMI Classics.

"She dresses like a rock chick and talks like a cheeky ladette, but when she sings it's pure Royal Opera House."

CLASSICAL POP

Bach in the USSR Mozart of Glass Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Puccini Strauss of Fun Sealed With a Liszt Handel in the Wind Jailhouse Baroque Anything by Grieg Grieg Sputnik Oh, you get the idea...!