11:19am UK, Monday September 30, 2002

Pregnant Hazel Kaneswaran has been kicked out of Pop Stars: The Rivals after show bosses revealed she was over the age limit.

The finalist who made it to the final 10 female contestants for this weekend's TV screening was discovered to be 10 days too old.

sp Hazel Kaneswaran pregnant popstars the rivals

Hazel: too old

Contestants have to be between 16 and 24 on July 1. But the mum-to-be turned 25 on June 20.

The Dubliner was given the devastating news of her expulsion when judge Geri Halliwell made a flying visit to Ireland.

Awful

"It was really awful for both Hazel and the judges but rules are rules," said an insider at the ITV1 show.

"It was an administrative error that it wasn't picked up earlier but they won't let her through."

But not all is lost.

Polydor, the record company which will look after the girl band created from the show, is considering offering Hazel a separate solo contract.