Zoe Birkett Reveals Miscarriage During Final Weeks of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Singer and actress Zoe Birkett has opened up about suffering a miscarriage while performing in the West End production of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.

The former Pop Idol finalist, who concluded her run as Tina Turner in June, revealed that she discovered she was pregnant with her second child in April. In an emotional social media post, Birkett, now 40, shared that at an 11-week scan doctors found her baby had no heartbeat. Within the same week she endured what she described as “two traumatic miscarriage experiences.”

Birkett took four performances off but returned to the stage the following week despite the physical and emotional toll. “Was I healed? No, of course not. Was I ok? No, of course not. But performing also heals me,” she told her followers.

With just two weeks left on her contract, she celebrated her 40th birthday and final performances under extraordinary personal strain. “I didn’t want to let anyone down who were coming to see my final shows,” she said. “Most importantly I wanted to end the contract the same way I started it: strong, with my head held high, knowing I did that.”

In a video accompanying her announcement, Birkett and her partner Adam are shown celebrating the pregnancy, telling relatives, and documenting moments from her year in the show, including clips of her performing while secretly expecting.

She explained that producers and the creative team were made aware of her pregnancy from the outset, and choreography, fight scenes, and costumes were adapted to ensure her safety. A full risk assessment was also carried out.

Reflecting on the experience, Birkett described the miscarriage as “the hardest two weeks of my life,” adding: “There is no pain like it – in every sense of the word. The loss of happiness that was so quickly taken from me instantly will live in me forever.”

Despite the tragedy, she expressed gratitude for the support she received from her family, cast, and colleagues, and for the daily joy of her daughter, who attended her mother’s final performance. “The silver lining is looking into my daughter’s eyes every day, feeling thankful I still have her,” she said.

Birkett also highlighted the importance of speaking openly about miscarriage, calling it “a tragedy that is so common,” and praised the courage of women who have shared their own experiences with her.