CLUBBERS across the UK are busy eating their words as reality-TV star-turned-house-DJ Kate Lawler slowly works around the country pulling off one storming set after another.

Make up your own mind when she brings her own unique mix of fresh and funky house hits to Burnley's Fusion on Saturday, April 21.

But making a name for yourself on the club scene doesn't come easy.

"I'm doing gigs every weekend and it's pretty stressful, I think that's why I'm always ill," said Kate over the phone in her trademark husky tones.

"After your set you always end up going out partying, but I love it. Since I started a residency at Sankey's in Manchester I've heard some wicked music that I wouldn't usually get to hear."

Passionate about house music from her youth, Kate took to the decks two years ago - the first time she could afford to buy them.

Now she is booked regularly at clubs like The Cross, Pacha, The Egg, Privilege and Eden in Ibiza, plus venues in Dubai, Tokyo and Morocco.

But some people can't seem to forget her reality TV roots.

"A lot of people have already formed an opinion about my music without even checking out my Myspace," said Kate in annoyed tones.

"They think just because I've been on the telly I'm going to play commercial pop, R 'n' B and party anthems. It gets on my nerves that some people don't take me seriously because of Big Brother.

"I suppose it's because a lot of people off the telly, like Edith Bowman and Vernon Kay, do uni gigs where they play chart music like Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys.

"But I love to surprise people with the music I play and I always get positive feedback."

But Kate doesn't regret her time in the Big Brother house.

"Oh my God, I never regret doing Big Brother, definitely never ever, not for one second. I always wanted to do it since I first saw the show. I just thought how wicked to have that experience and to be able to tell your grandchildren that you did that?

"I went in wanting to win because I wanted the £70k and it was useful. It meant I could move out of home and help out my family. I did little things like pay for my sister's wedding and pay off my parents' mortgage. And being on the show led me to so many cool jobs on TV and radio. I have a lot to thank Big Brother for.

"It can sometimes work against you that you've done reality TV, especially when DJing but on the other hand people know me because they saw me on Big Brother, they know what type of person I am, that I'm game for a laugh and that I'm up for a party and they know I'm always going to try to make them have the best night they possibly can."

Kate's plans for the future focus mainly on continuing to make her name DJing, both in Britain and abroad, but she's also doing more modelling for adult store Ann Summers and working on releasing a house track with DJ duo Hoxton Whores.

"I don't know how good it's going to be because it's the first time I've done it, but I want it to be quite dark, but accessible too."

Like everything else she's turned her hand to, it may just be a runaway success.

l Visit www.myspace.com/djkatelawler