She's been in the spotlight as a Pop Idol finalist and she's known to millions of viewers as Nurse Stella Davenport in The Royal.

And now Bradford City fans are getting to know Natalie Anderson as a cheerleader, lighting up the pitch before the players turn out.

Natalie, 24, of Guiseley, is aiming to turn City matches into family days out, and get children fit at the same time.

She and her friend Emma Johnston have set up Sportstar Entertainments, providing pre-match entertainment for Bradford City Football Club. Their dance troupe the Bantam Starlites performs cheerleader-style routines for the crowds and a junior troupe, the Bantam Starlets, for youngsters aged two to 12, has been launched.

The pair also run dance classes for youngsters at Valley Parade on Saturday mornings, with the aim of getting children into sport and fitness.

"We want to get children involved in the club and to make sports matches more of a family event," said Natalie, 24. "By providing pre-match entertainment we make it more of an event, a show, and we're organising children's events like face-painting and competitions on the pitch so they don't just come and watch a game and end up bored.

"Hopefully that will encourage dads to take their children along. Parents whose children attend the dance classes get a discounted ticket for City matches."

Natalie and Emma hope the on-pitch entertainment will inspire children to take more interest in sport. "The Saturday morning dance classes are for girls and boys. They come along and jump up and down for two hours," said Natalie.

"The Bantams Starlets are like mini replicas of the Starlites. We're using pom-poms sent over from America and they all love the cheerleader thing. It gets them involved in the game and what's going on around them. The classes run all summer and we're launching a teenagers' dance troupe."

At 19, Natalie was a finalist in the first series of Pop Idol, competing with Bradford's Gareth Gates. "It was great experience but I'm glad I didn't win - too much pressure!" she said. "I still love singing and am recording an album."

Natalie has been filming The Royal at St Luke's Hospital in Bradford. "My character is fun-loving and flirts with the patients," she said. "It's such a popular show, full of nostalgia."

Natalie, who has also appeared in Holby City and Dalziel and Pascoe, is taking part in a star-studded gala evening for the family of PC Sharon Beshenivsky at Valley Parade on Sunday, April 30, performing alongside stars like Bradford singer Chenai Zinyuku, boxer Amir Khan, actor Ralf Little and Coronation Street star Bill Tarmey.

The gala dinner is on the eve of a star-studded football match which will see a team of celebrities take on former professionals.

l For more details about Sportstar Entertainment ring 0870 822 0000.