City singer hit by mystery illness

Aug 31 2007 By Andy Coleman, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM starlet Hayley Evetts has been struck down by a mystery stomach illness.

The 30-year-old actress and singer was taken to casualty in great pain and has since been seen by a specialist at Selly Oak hospital.

"I thought it was appendicitis but I've now had lots of tests and I get the results next week," said the former Pop Idol finalist. "I'm feeling under the weather but my mum is looking after me."

Hayley has been living at the family home in Quinton since leaving the stage show Grease last year.

She toured with the show playing Sandy for two and a half years, including dates in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

"Once I'm better I've got lots of things planned including getting back into the recording studio," she said. "I thought I'd have a little break from theatre to concentrate on my singing. I want to give it a proper shot."

Hayley's first time in the spotlight came seven years ago through Popstars, the talent contest that launched the careers of Hear'Say and Liberty X.

By December 2001, she was trying her luck again in Pop Idol. At first she failed to impress judge Simon Cowell, who said: "You have no sparkle, no charisma."

But by the time Hayley reached the final 10, Simon called her "so sexy".

She later presented the ITV2 coverage of Popstars: The Rivals and the reality TV show Cruel Holiday on satellite channel Trouble, but a planned music album failed to materialise.

Hayley also hit the gossip columns when it was revealed she dated Pop Idol contestant Gareth Gates.