Pop Idol (original) (raw)

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 United States series American Idol was based on Pop Idol, as was Australian Idol and other 'idol' shows around the world.

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.

In the Saturday night primetime show, hopefuls first audition before four judges (Pete Waterman, Simon Cowell, Nicki Chapman and Dr Fox). The 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.

In the first season, Will Young won, with Gareth Gates coming in second. Michelle McManus won the second season contest.

International spinoffs

Pop Idol imitations have been launched in over a dozen nations worldwide, including (listed with contest winners):

World Idol

A World Idol international television special was held in December 2003, featuring national first series Idol contest winners competing against each other; viewers worldwide voted Norwegian idol Kurt Nilsen "World Idol."