Pop Idol

:For an article about general popular culture icons, see Pop icon

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Pop Idol Finalists(with dates of elimination)

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Season 1 (2001-2)

Related Topics:
2001 - 2

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Will Youngwinner

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Gareth Gates9 February

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Darius Danesh2 February

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Zoë Birkett26 January

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Hayley Evetts19 January

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Rosie Ribbons12 January

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Laura Dogherty5 January

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Aaron Bailey29 December

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Jessica Garlick22 December

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Korben15 December

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Season 2 (2003)

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Michelle McManuswinner

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Mark Rhodes21 December

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Sam Nixon14 December

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Chris Hide7 December

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Susanne Manning30 November

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Roxanne Cooper23 November

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Andy Scott-Lee16 November

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Kim Gee9 November

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Marc Dillon2 November

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Brian Ormond2 November

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Kirsty Crawford26 October

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Leon McPherson26 October

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Pop Idol is a British television series shown on ITV1; the show is a talent contest to find the best new young singer or 'pop idol' in the UK. The Idol series has spun off dozens of successes such as American Idol, Canadian Idol, and Australian Idol.

Related Topics:
British - Television - ITV1 - Idol series - American Idol - Canadian Idol - Australian Idol

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Unusually, the format was created not by TV producers but by music impresario Simon Fuller. Pop Idol combines the traditional talent show with some aspects of reality television. One of the UK's top-earning TV format exports, Pop Idol makes extensive use of premium-priced viewer interactivity with viewers voting by telephone, mobile telephone texting or through the "red button" on digital television sets. The final of the first series of Pop Idol in February 2002 received the highest-ever one-night vote for a UK TV show, making the show one of ITV1's most profitable. The sister show on ITV2, Pop Idol Extra, also makes extensive use of mobile phone text messages to raise additional revenue.

Related Topics:
Format - Impresario - Simon Fuller - Reality television - Texting - Digital television - February 2002

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In the Saturday night primetime show, hopefuls first audition before four judges (Pete Waterman, Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman and Neil "Dr" Fox). Often, besides the succesful auditioners, the poorest "singers" are often aired due to their obvious lack of talent or presence. Poor singers often face harsh criticisms from many judges, mainly Simon Cowell (whose controversial rantings also made him famous on American Idol). The judge's reaction often extend from disgust to nearly open laughter over such performances. Some however, managed to stand out from the others, including the notorious Eye of the Tiger performed by Warren Wald, which became famous thanks to Neil Fox's uncontrolable laughter.

Related Topics:
Pete Waterman - Simon Cowell - Nicki Chapman - Neil "Dr" Fox - American Idol - Eye of the Tiger - Warren Wald

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Once auditions wrap up, judges narrow down the performers to a final 50, themselves narrowed down in weekly heats to ten (or in the second series twelve) finalists by a viewer vote. After that, each contestant performs live. Viewers have several hours following the broadcast of the show to phone in their votes for their favorite contestant. On the night's second episode (live again), the contestant with the fewest votes is sent home. The show is presented by British TV personalities Ant and Dec.

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In the first season, Will Young won, with Gareth Gates coming in second. Michelle McManus won the second season contest. However, due to a declining number of viewers during the second season, the show was put on indefinite hiatus, but its impact was intense, leading to a large number of spin-offs overseas.

Related Topics:
Will Young - Gareth Gates - Michelle McManus

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