TV REALITY soap star Jessica Wright is holding her breath on taking a huge leap to pop stardom – and her former manager has told the Recorder he is not surprised fame is beckoning for her.

Jessica, 24, is one of the cast of the controversial ITV2 show The Only Way Is Essex and in an episode screened last week was seen with fellow members of girl band Lola being offered a record company deal by Universal which would guarantee them a top ten single.

But it is not the first stab at fame by Jessica as she was a member of teen girl band Yo-Yo which appeared on stage at the Redbridge Show in 1999.

Yo-Yo manager Doug Rogers spoke of the “mischievously feisty” girl, who has always been determined to achieve stardom.

“Ironically, Universal were interested in them back when they started,” said Doug.

“Jessica was a sweet-looking redhead with a dazzling smile that could light up a stage.”

The Recorder was also contacted by former band mate Rebecca Barnard who said: “She is just a lovely girl – there’s not a bad word I can say about her.”

The group formed after the three girls – Jessica, Rebecca and Gabby Golding – met at Stage One Theatre Production School in Westbury Lane, Buckhurst Hill in 1998.

Doug spoke about the possibility of a reunion, saying: “If Lola ever do make the pop ‘big time’, I feel that that would be a more appropriate moment for Jessica to celebrate her performance apprenticeship, partially with Yo Yo, but mainly at Stage One, where it all started for her and the girls – and me, really, as far as they were concerned.”

The final episode of the Only Way Is Essex aired last night.

You can listen to Yo-Yo’s song “I’m not your yo-yo, bro” elsewhere on the Ilford Recorder website.