As a finalist on last year’s X Factor, Diana Vickers ended up getting more press attention for her relationship with Eoghan Quigg and her controversial laryngitis than for her unusual singing voice.

But after landing a record contract and a new West End role, the 18-year-old is set to remind Britain why she was on the TV contest in the first place.

The Lancashire singer is playing Little Voice in the new production of The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice at the Vaudeville Theatre from October 8.

The play tells the story of a shy, reclusive girl named Laura, aka Little Voice, who lives with her abusive mother Mari (Lesley Sharp) in the north of England.

Desperately missing her dead father, Little Voice spends most of time locked in her bedroom listening to his record collection and perfecting flawless impersonations of famous divas, including Shirley Bassey, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield songs.

When Mari started dating dodgy club boss Ray Say (Marc Warren), he is amazed by Little Voice’s singing and becomes intent on making her a star and himself rich in the process.

The production comes 17 years after the original West End run, which was nominated for six Olivier Awards.

Diana follows in the footsteps of Jane Horrocks, who nominated for a Golden Globe as her performance of Little Voice in the 1998 film.

Brenda Bleythn, who played Mari, was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, while Sir Michael Caine (Ray Say) picked up the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.