She actually came fourth, but Blackburn lass Diana Vickers made a huge impression on the 2008 edition of The X Factor. Diana, due to play Leicester's Summer Sundae Festival this year, divided both the judges and voting public, with her kooky appeal and daring song choices.

"It seems like forever ago, all that,'' says 18-year-old Diana today. "But then, things have gone so fast since the show ended.

"It's all a big blur.''

Today, she's full of news about her album, Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree, which is out this week

"I worked a lot with Guy Sigsworth, who is this incredible producer, and he was the one that made me realise my voice goes quite well with synths and electro music.''

Yorkshire-born Sigsworth has worked with everyone from Björk to Britney Spears.

Whoever paired him with Diana played a blinder as the result is an eclectic collection of songs, mostly electronic, but with tinges of folk and jazz.

My Hip, a song which lets Diana literally blow her own trumpet, is among the stand-out tracks.

"I don't think people know I can play the trumpet,'' she says, "so it was great to play on that track. I love The Boy Who Murdered Love, too. That's where the title of the album comes from.

"That song has a line in it that goes 'You're a tainted cherry tree, there's a mark upon your skin' and I think that's quite poetic. It's about the idea of forbidden fruit, you know. ''

Much of her album deals with heartbreak. Diana's only 18 – surely she's not been through this much misery already?

"No, it's not personal, not really,'' she says, laughing. "I'm just young and imaginative.''

Before our interview, she had been busy downloading Edith Piaf songs. She says she's obsessed with the French singer, a hangover from her stint in the title role of the West-End musical The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice, about a shy girl with a unique singing talent.

It was Diana's first stage role, but she took to it brilliantly, winning a Theatregoers' Choice award .

"I did all my album first, and then was approached in July. It was just too good to turn down.''

Diana says she is getting used to attention that goes with being an ex-X Factor contestant.

"I think I'm a bit wiser than I was, which has come from working with older and wiser people. I've learned so much."

Diana Vickers is one of the stars at the Summer Sundae Weekender at De Montfort Hall, Leicester, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, August 13, 14 and 15.

www.summersundae.com