A Langdon Hills lass has gone from jobbing singer to X Factor star – with a little help from the Echo along the way.

Millions of viewers tuning into the popular talent show this weekend saw former cruise ship singer Charley Bird, 23, reach the boot camp stage of the auditions.

Thrilled Charley, who has revealed she is pregnant, jetted off to Greece to be part of new judge Tulisa’s bootcamp.

Blonde Charley, who is one half of Essex girl duo 2 Shoes with pal Lucy Texeria, 22, won the hearts of judges during the audition stage, when the pair belted out song All My Life.

Charley, of Barnyard, Lang-don Hills, has been singing since she was ten.

The pair are now hotly tipped to reach the live finals of the show.

Charley worked at the Echo in 2008, when she was a receptionist on our front counter.

The Echo even helped Charley and pals, Sheila Lord and Jodie Lenton, get a hand up the showbiz ladder, when we appealed to find a backing band for them so they could perform at gigs.

After that, Charley branched out on her own, going on a solo tour of Europe, where she recorded with Benny Andersson, of Abba fame, and performed at live functions across Essex.

In 2008, Charley told the Echo she was aware of the industry’s pitfalls, admitting: “I understand this is an overpopulated industry crammed with ambitious people, so you can’t take your eye off the ball and ever get complacent.”

X Factor bosses promised to support Charley and work round her pregnancy while she takes part in the competition.

Charley, who has been compared to songstress Joss Stone, will be almost eight months pregnant when the show ends in December.

She said: “I told Lucy more or less straight away and she’s been brilliant. We have even thought about re-naming ourselves 3 Shoes.”

Charley even knows the sex of her baby, saying she is expecting a boy with her partner of four years, Greg Phillips, 30.

She said: “I can’t wait to be a mum.

“We’re both so excited. It’s made me want to do well in the competition even more, so that I can give my son a really good start in life.”