ON The X Factor, finalist Diana Vickers was known for her barefoot performances and claw-like hand gestures.

But now the 23-year-old is carving out a successful career in acting and her latest venture saw the television cameras rolling in Bolton town centre.

Her first television acting role, Give Out Girls has given Diana the chance to take on more comedy, following an award-winning performance in The Rise and Fall of Little Voice on the West End stage.

Give Out Girls, which launched on Comedy Central earlier this month, features Diana as one of four promotions girls whose job it is to try and force you to drink ‘Nectarino — the taste of sunshine in a bottle’ or convince shoppers to buy dubious clip-on hair extensions that make them look like a badger.

Diana, from Blackburn, said: "It's really exciting.

"It was one of those things, we filmed it last May and I was saying, when is anyone going to get to see it?

"It was special because it was my first ever TV thing. Now it's out there, it's getting a really good reaction on social media.

"I feel chuffed, it's good to be out in the universe.

"I'm enjoying being part of that comedy world.

"I do love sitcoms, I love watching American and British sitcoms.

"Me and my sister write together. I love to laugh and surround myself with funny people."

Last May, Diana and her co-stars, including BAFTA-nominated Kerry Howard, from BBC Three's Him & Her, descended on Victoria Square to film for the six-part series.

She said: "People thought we really were promotions people.

"They were coming in during takes asking if they could have some of the drinks.

"I used to go shopping in Bolton with my mum.

"You've got the town hall and, when we were filming, we were in there keeping warm and I remember thinking, what a nice place.

"It was nice and the people were really friendly."

In Give Out Girls, being ignored or verbally abused is part of the job as they vie to become the all-important top seller of the day.

Has Diana ever had to do a job like her character - young, eager and not yet jaded Gemma?

She said: "Not really but acting can be a bit cut-throat.

"I worked at Marks and Spencer for a couple of years which was lovely.

"I was a waitress and I got fired, I wasn't very good at that.

"I've never done the whole promotions thing."

It was in 2008 when Diana first came to the public's attention on ITV singing show The X Factor, in which she was the bookies' favourite to win before being eliminated in the semi-final.

She said: "I t feels like a long time ago, it's just one of those things that you do.

"The X Factor lasted six months for me and it was a really big thing.

"The West End lasted six months too."

Watching the current series of the ITV show, she says she knows exactly how the current contestants are feeling.

She said: "Even now I can see it and remember.

"It's fun but it's that thing of thinking, where am I going to end up?

"It's like when you're at school and you're wondering where am I going to be and what's going to happen?"

Following The X Factor, Diana released her debut album, Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree, which peaked at number one in the charts and she also enjoyed stage success playing the leading role in Bolton playwright Jim Cartwright's production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

She said: "He is just a fantastic writer.

"I love so many of his plays.

"Jim was so involved and hands-on with the play.

"It was a special thing to be part of, it was so magical."

Diana attended Westholme School in Blackburn, where she was in the year below Bolton actress Helen Flanagan, and - although she misses the North - has made a life for herself in the South, where she has an East London home.

She said: "I do love London.

"I have lived there for seven years now.

"I love the fast pace."

Give Out Girls is on Comedy Central on Tuesdays at 9.30pm and is repeated on Sundays at 11pm.