Pop Idol - Show News, Reviews, Recaps and Photos - TV.com
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Welcome to the Pop Idol guide at TV.com. Pop Idol is a reality TV talent contest, created by 19 Management to discover the popstars of tomorrow. Open auditions are held throughout the country, and a list of 500 is drawn up. The hopefuls are cut down to just 100. From these 100, 50 move on to the next stage. From this point onwards, it's the voting public who will decide who stays and who leaves. Five live audition shows take place, with two of the ten contestants from each round gaining a place in the Top 10. For nine weeks, the final ten are whittled down by the public's votes, with one getting the chop each week, until only one Pop Idol remains. The show has become an international success story and it now airs in many other countries. France, America, Germany and Australia are just some of the countries that have enjoyed the series since its UK debut in 2001. The four judges who pass judgement on the thousands of hopefuls are Pop Svengali Simon Cowell, who has developed a repuation for being ruthlessly honest, Pop Music Producing legend Pete Waterman, Industry Insider Nicky Chapman and Capital FM Radio DJ, Dr. Fox. Simon Cowell is also a judge on the American version of the show called American Idol. In 2005 ITV celebrated it's 50th aniversary and Pop Idol was voted the 9th best show from those 50 years to have aired on ITV. Series One of the show saw the rise of eventual winner Will Young, and his promosing music career. Runner-Up Gareth Gates also got a recording contract and continues to have smash hit singles. Third place contestant Darius Danesh has also gone on to great things and has had a number one single and platinum selling album. The second season of the show was every bit as popular as the first. In an added twist to the format a Wildcard episode was aired for the second season giving failed applicants who the judges felt desserved it a second chance at success. The season's eventual winner was Michelle McManus who was critised for her weight to begin with but to whome the public warmed to and voted for in their millions. Her debut single was a number one hit for weeks and her album has also become a big hit in the charts. Runners-Up Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes were given a recording contract too and went to number one with their debut single in March 2004. In 2002 Pop Idol won the BAFTA award for best entertainment show. It also won a National Television Award in 2002 for best entertainment show whilst Ant and Dec won the best presenters award.moreless