“Zoe Birkett had a miscarriage two weeks before the end of her role in The Tina Turner musical (Picture: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images) Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett has revealed she suffered a miscarriage while starring as Tina Turner in the West End musical. The singer, 40, who said goodbye to her role as the”, — write: metro.co.uk
Zoe Birkett had a miscarriage two weeks before the end of her role in The Tina Turner musical (Picture: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images) Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett has revealed she suffered a miscarriage while starring as Tina Turner in the West End musical.
The singer, 40, who said goodbye to her role as the River Deep Mountain hitmaker in June, found out she was pregnant with her second child in April.
Zoe – who found fame on Pop Idol in 2001 – took to social media today to reveal the devastating news that she suffered a miscarriage, which she was dealing with during the closing weeks of her West End run of The Tina Turner Musical.
At 11 weeks Zoe went for a scan which revealed her baby had no heartbeat, and within that week she had ‘two traumatic miscarriage experiences’.
‘I took four shows off during that week, and went back the next week, was I healed? No, of course not. Was I ok? No, of course not. But performing also heals me,’ she told followers.
With two weeks on her contract remaining, Zoe tried to celebrate her 40th birthday and her final shows, but admitted those were the ‘hardest two weeks’ of her life.
She took to social media today to share her emotional experience (Picture: Zoe Birkett/Instagram) 
Zoe is proud of herself for continuing the performances after such a huge trauma (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) 
Zoe is thankful to have her daughter, and is holding her tight (Picture: Ben Montgomery/Getty Images) ‘I didn’t want to let anyone down who were coming to see my final shows but most importantly I wanted to END the contract the same way I started it: Strong. With my head held high, knowing I DID THAT,’ she said.
‘My daughter came to see my final night and I hold her more closely than ever, and I’m thankful beyond belief that we get to share everyday with her.’
In a video marking special moments over the past year,Zoe and her partner Adam can be seen crying with happiness at her pregnancy news, calling relatives, and clips showed the singer enjoying playing Tina with her secret bump.
Due to the physical nature of the show, Zoe informed producers she was pregnant immediately, and the choreography, fight scenes and outfits were all adapted to her condition, with a risk assessment also carried out.
Zoe and Adam decided not to tell their daughter until the 12 week mark, but they were planning excitedly for a due date around Christmas time, and their family were aware.
‘I had no morning sickness whatsoever just like my first pregnancy and to be honest I felt like a superwoman doing all of this at almost 40,’ she said.
Alongside the video, Zoe also wrote a caption to the post summing up her experience.
‘It’s been a wild, traumatic, emotional few months for me lately especially during my final few weeks at Tina musical and I thought it would be good to open up with some honesty as to why,’ she began.
‘Being pregnant playing this role was one thing , but then losing my baby in my final 3 weeks of playing my dream role was another…
‘The loss of happiness that was so quickly taken from me instantly will live in me forever.
Zoe told family about the pregnancy and also show producers so they could adapt accordingly (Picture: Zoe Birkett/Instagram) 
She said it was the hardest two weeks of her life (Picture: Zoe Birkett/Instagram) ‘My body was changing and I was showing as pregnant, we were planning a whole different future for our family, and then those words of “I’m sorry your baby has no heartbeat“ still feels like a dizzy out of body experience.
‘Music has always been my healer and the survival mode I had to find to continue the final few weeks of my contract is something I’ll forever be proud of during such a traumatic experience for my body, mind and my family.
‘I was fully supported by family, including the producers, creatives, cast and our wonderful fight director combat Kate to ensure I was safe at all costs .
‘I’ve experienced some things in my life, but there is no pain like it – in every sense of the word.
‘Feeling brave and open to talking about it now which is really helping me find peace and acceptance. I’ve also spoken with some incredible women who have also been through a miscarriage, and it’s a tragedy that is so common.
‘Silver lining is looking into my daughters eyes every day feeling thankful I still have her.’
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