WORSLEY wonder-girl Sarah Whatmore has plenty to sing about after landing a six-figure recording contract with Pop Idol's "Mr Nasty" Simon Cowell.

The 20-year-old may have failed to win over the public after her performance on the smash hit TV show but she has certainly won the heart of Mr Cowell -- who is believed to have branded her Britain's answer to Billion Dollar Babe Jennifer Lopez.

Sarah's debut earlier this month on Pop Idol saw her perform the classic Lionel Ritchie ballad Endless Love.

She won 20 per cent of the votes, which was not enough to topple the larger-than-life heat winner, 20-stone singer Rik Waller.

Despite only coming fourth in the public vote, her stunning performance caught the eye of Mr Cowell.

The record industry mogul -- famous for shooting down pop wannabes with his acidic tongue -- had just two words for Sarah following her performance: "Marry me".

And speaking to the BEN after the programme, Sarah prophetically said: "Now I can move on. A few offers have been made already and, although I know it won't happen overnight, I think I'll get a record contract and be bigger than Pop Idols itself."

Mr Cowell has now offered classically-trained Sarah a five-album record deal with the chance of working with one of the biggest star makers in the business. Once signed to Cowell's RCA label, Sarah will work with Simon Fuller, who groomed both the Spice Girls and S Club 7 for success.

A delighted Sarah told the BEN today: "It's all happened quite quickly but I'm really thrilled.

"I had a couple of meetings with Simon after the show and eventually decided to sign with his company."

The eventual winner of Pop Idol will also receive a record deal with RCA's parent company, BMG.

But Sarah said she believes her route to stardom will be different: "I'm a dancer as well as a singer. It's still early days, but what I do will be different to the Pop Idol stuff."

The former Worsley St George's RC High pupil added: "I know everyone says this but I really want to be successful and I am willing to work as hard as I possibly can to achieve this.

"But I think it may be a little early to compare me with Jennifer Lopez."

She described the record deal as the best Christmas present ever. She said mum Carmel was overjoyed for her and said of dad Stephen, who passed away two years ago: "I know he will be looking down and smiling. He would have been very proud."

Sarah said that she now hopes to be recording and releasing her first record early in the New Year.