"I was disappointed when I didn't get through but I'm really glad I didn't now," says Jessica Taylor from Liberty X.

She's talking about Popstars, the television phenomenon that had us glued to the set every Saturday night for weeks.

Jessica made it into the final but not into Hear'say, the band the winners became.

But Jessica has good reason to be glad about it.

Hear'say split up after 18 months. Former band member Myleen Klass is doing contact lens advertisements, Kym Marsh's threats to pursue a solo career have never quite materialised and the rest of the band face uncertain futures.

Meanwhile, Liberty X, formed by Jessica and the other four rejected Popstars finalists, have gone from strength to strength.

Though manufactured, their pop/r'n'b sound is made all the more credible by songwriter Peter Devereux of Artful Dodger fame.

Their image now requires less of those inane, children's TV smiles and they have been rewarded with big chart hits.

Not that Jessica likes to boast about their rise to fame.

She says: "I put our success down to us all getting on so well. You can never tell if a band's going to work or not.

"There are just so many factors involved but I would say if you haven't got that you're lost."

She's right. After all, Hear'say split up because Kym and Myleen couldn't get on.

Jessica is experienced in dealing with the media, perhaps more so because of her admitting to smoking cannabis during a dummy media conference as part of the Popstars selection procedure.

"The judges said it had nothing to do with me not winning but I don't know for sure," she says.

Rejection isn't going to stop the Lancashire lass from getting what she wants and her approach to her career is level-headed.

She says: "I never had any professional training but I always wanted to perform.

"I got a bit of experience in school plays but when I got to college I stopped because I wanted to concentrate on my A-levels."

Jessica was actually bound for Oxford University but failed to make one of the grades.

Deciding no other university would do, she landed a job with Lancashire Police in the forensics department but fame was still her main target.

"I wanted to hold down a good job, which would fund my travel down to auditions in London."

Jessica entered four or five auditions before the Popstars one came up, which was the first for a band rather than a show.

She does not keep in touch with the other participants.

"People think we would because they saw us all together so much on the telly. But it was just an audition at the end of the day.

"You meet people, you spend time with them, you move on. I'm still in touch with Kym but that's as far as it goes."

Jessica has managed to hang on to all her old friends.

She says: "I've been really lucky. All my mates still treat me the same.

"They're really happy for me and interested in what I'm doing and I'm the same with them. I've got used to the funny hours and it's obviously an exciting job.

"But I'm a real homely person. What I want is a house, a family and a car. I've never got used to being famous.

"I forget sometimes and wonder why people are staring at me. Once I was out doing my shopping and someone followed me, giving a running commentary on their mobile to a mate about what I had in my shopping basket."

Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £16.50. Call 0870 900 9100 for further information.