Popstars (UK series 1)
Encyclopedia
Popstars was a UK talent show
series that was broadcast on ITV
in early 2001. It was the first UK series of the international Popstars
franchise
, and was billed as a documentary
on the formation of a modern pop group. The series began with audition rounds of aspiring singers (good and bad) performing songs before a panel of judges. The best performers were selected to come to London for further rounds of auditions. Over the weeks, the judges eliminated various singers from the auditions until just a few singers were left in contention. In the final weeks, five contestants were chosen by the judges to form the new pop group Hear’Say
. The programme then showed the group recording and promoting their first single, documenting their first ventures into the music industry.
The first series of Popstars proved popular with audiences, and a second series (named Popstars: The Rivals) followed in 2002.
or X Factor
television series, which are presented as singing contests with public votes, the original UK series of Popstars was presented as a documentary, looking at the formation of a modern pop group from the auditions through to the first released single. There was no public vote, rather the panel of judges decided on which aspiring singers formed the group.
After the formation of the group (called Hear’Say
), the programme documented the group recording and promoting their first single ("Pure and Simple
"), with the series ending on the night the single charted in the UK Singles Chart
(The single went straight to number 1).
Daniel Hill
was the narrator of the series and Davina McCall
was the host of the final episode, which was broadcast live on the night that Hear'Say's first single entered the chart in a simulcast with Mark Goodier on the Top 40 show on BBC Radio 1
.
, Kym Marsh
, Suzanne Shaw
and Noel Sullivan
— formed the group Hear’Say
. Hear’Say went on to sell three million records worldwide, and scored two UK number one singles before disbanding eighteen months after their formation. Today, Klass is a television presenter, while Marsh and Shaw are actors in television soap opera
s. Sullivan is a West End theatre
performer, while Foster has made occasional appearances in reality television
shows.
The other five finalists in the first Popstars series (who were not selected to join the group) formed their own pop group called Liberty X
. Liberty X (consisting of Michelle Heaton
, Tony Lundon
, Kevin Simm
, Jessica Taylor
and Kelli Young
) went on to be commercially more successful than Hear’Say, achieving ten consecutive UK Top 20 singles before their split in 2006.
Darius Danesh was another noted auditionee in the first series of Popstars. Danesh was seen as an early favourite on the show, but was eliminated half way through the series after performing an 'alternative' version of Britney Spears
's "...Baby One More Time
" to the judges. Danesh went on to compete in the first series of Pop Idol
, finishing third. He then had a successful solo career as a recording artist before becoming a West End theatre performer.
Contestant Warren Stacey
was signed to Def Jam Recordings
in 2001 and reached Number 26 on the UK Singles Chart with his debut hit "My Girl My Girl".
. However, Simon Fuller
used the Popstars format as inspiration for his new TV show Pop Idol
, which was broadcast on ITV soon after Popstars. Pop Idol, which included audience voting and live performances proved even more popular than Popstars with the viewing public, and these elements were worked into the second series of Popstars (named Popstars: The Rivals) which included audience polls and live singing.
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
series that was broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in early 2001. It was the first UK series of the international Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
, and was billed as a documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
on the formation of a modern pop group. The series began with audition rounds of aspiring singers (good and bad) performing songs before a panel of judges. The best performers were selected to come to London for further rounds of auditions. Over the weeks, the judges eliminated various singers from the auditions until just a few singers were left in contention. In the final weeks, five contestants were chosen by the judges to form the new pop group Hear’Say
Hear’Say
Hear'Say were a British manufactured pop group created in February 2001 from the winners of Popstars, an ITV reality TV show based on a New Zealand show of the same name. They enjoyed huge success with their debut single "Pure and Simple", helped by the publicity surrounding Popstars, the first of...
. The programme then showed the group recording and promoting their first single, documenting their first ventures into the music industry.
The first series of Popstars proved popular with audiences, and a second series (named Popstars: The Rivals) followed in 2002.
Format
Unlike the modern IdolIdol series
The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin-offs in 42 territories, in what is now referred to as the "Idols" format, as described by FremantleMedia...
or X Factor
The X Factor (TV series)
The X Factor is a television talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from...
television series, which are presented as singing contests with public votes, the original UK series of Popstars was presented as a documentary, looking at the formation of a modern pop group from the auditions through to the first released single. There was no public vote, rather the panel of judges decided on which aspiring singers formed the group.
After the formation of the group (called Hear’Say
Hear’Say
Hear'Say were a British manufactured pop group created in February 2001 from the winners of Popstars, an ITV reality TV show based on a New Zealand show of the same name. They enjoyed huge success with their debut single "Pure and Simple", helped by the publicity surrounding Popstars, the first of...
), the programme documented the group recording and promoting their first single ("Pure and Simple
Pure and Simple
"Pure and Simple" is a popular song, released as the debut single by Hear'Say, the original winners of the UK version of Popstars. It was released as a double A-side with "Bridge Over Troubled Water", which was a fan favourite at the live shows....
"), with the series ending on the night the single charted in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(The single went straight to number 1).
Daniel Hill
Daniel Hill (actor)
Daniel Hill is a British actor known primarily for his television work.His most notable role was as the avaricious Harvey Bains, manager of the retirement home in Waiting for God, alongside Stephanie Cole and Graham Crowden; though he had also appeared with Martin Clunes and William Gaunt in the...
was the narrator of the series and Davina McCall
Davina McCall
Davina McCall is an English television presenter and actress, most notable as the presenter of the UK version of Big Brother up until its move to Channel 5.- Early life :...
was the host of the final episode, which was broadcast live on the night that Hear'Say's first single entered the chart in a simulcast with Mark Goodier on the Top 40 show on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
.
Judges
- Nigel LythgoeNigel LythgoeNigel Lythgoe is an English television and film director and producer, and former dancer in the Young Generation and choreographer. He is noted for being the producer of the shows Pop Idol and American Idol as well as being a creator, executive producer and a regular judge for So You Think You Can...
, (dubbed "Nasty Nigel" by the British press) was the most outspoken judge on the panel. With a judging style to be emulated later by Simon CowellSimon CowellSimon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
, Lythgoe later went on to be head judge on So You Think You Can Dance?So You Think You Can Dance (U.S. TV series)So You Think You Can Dance is an American dance competition and reality show that airs on Fox in the United States.The series first premiered on July 20, 2005, and was created by American Idol producers Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and is produced by 19 Entertainment and Dick Clark Productions... - Nicki ChapmanNicki ChapmanNicki Chapman is an English television presenter who also works in the British pop music industry. She was also a judge on the ITV reality shows Popstars, with Nigel Lythgoe and Paul Adam, and Pop Idol, along with Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and Neil Fox...
, music promoter, who later featured in the judging panel of Pop IdolPop IdolPop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
alongside Simon Cowell - Paul Adam, director of A&R at Polydor RecordsPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
Notable acts and performers
The winners of the series — Danny Foster, Myleene KlassMyleene Klass
Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...
, Kym Marsh
Kym Marsh
Kimberley Gail Marsh is an English actress and singer.- Early life :Marsh was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester and raised in Garswood, in the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, Merseyside...
, Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw is an English actress, singer and television personality...
and Noel Sullivan
Noel Sullivan
Noel Sullivan , is a Welsh singer and actor. He was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. Like the other members of the group, he won his part through the talent show Popstars.-Early life and career:...
— formed the group Hear’Say
Hear’Say
Hear'Say were a British manufactured pop group created in February 2001 from the winners of Popstars, an ITV reality TV show based on a New Zealand show of the same name. They enjoyed huge success with their debut single "Pure and Simple", helped by the publicity surrounding Popstars, the first of...
. Hear’Say went on to sell three million records worldwide, and scored two UK number one singles before disbanding eighteen months after their formation. Today, Klass is a television presenter, while Marsh and Shaw are actors in television soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
s. Sullivan is a West End theatre
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
performer, while Foster has made occasional appearances in reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
shows.
The other five finalists in the first Popstars series (who were not selected to join the group) formed their own pop group called Liberty X
Liberty X
Liberty X were a British pop vocal group formed by the five contestants eliminated from the final ten qualifiers from the 2001 ITV show Popstars. The group consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
. Liberty X (consisting of Michelle Heaton
Michelle Heaton
Michelle Christine Heaton is a British pop singer, television personality, and recently a glamour model as well. She was married to former boyband member Andy Scott-Lee.-Career:...
, Tony Lundon
Tony Lundon
Anthony William James "Tony" Lundon born 13 April 1979 in Galway, Republic of Ireland) is an Irish pop singer-songwriter and dancer. He is best known as a member of the successful pop group Liberty X which also consisted of Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
, Kevin Simm
Kevin Simm
Kevin Ian Simm , is an English pop singer and former member of the group, Liberty X.-Biography:...
, Jessica Taylor
Jessica Taylor (Liberty X)
Jessica Taylor is an English singer, previously with the Brit Award winning pop group, Liberty X. The group consisted of herself, Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, and Kelli Young.-Personal life:...
and Kelli Young
Kelli Young
Kelli Young is an English pop singer. She was a member of British pop group, Liberty X which also consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, and Jessica Taylor....
) went on to be commercially more successful than Hear’Say, achieving ten consecutive UK Top 20 singles before their split in 2006.
Darius Danesh was another noted auditionee in the first series of Popstars. Danesh was seen as an early favourite on the show, but was eliminated half way through the series after performing an 'alternative' version of Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
's "...Baby One More Time
...Baby One More Time (song)
"...Baby One More Time" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears. It served as Spears' debut single from her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time . Written by Max Martin and produced by Martin, Denniz Pop and Rami Yacoub, "...Baby One More Time" was released on September 30, 1998,...
" to the judges. Danesh went on to compete in the first series of Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
, finishing third. He then had a successful solo career as a recording artist before becoming a West End theatre performer.
Contestant Warren Stacey
Warren Stacey
Warren Stacey is a British singer from London who came into prominence on the UK television show Popstars, the reality programme that created the pop band Hear'Say...
was signed to Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
in 2001 and reached Number 26 on the UK Singles Chart with his debut hit "My Girl My Girl".
Aftermath
The first series of Popstars proved popular with audiences, and was a ratings hit for ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. However, Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller is a British artist manager, television producer and creator of the Idol franchise, first seen as Pop Idol in the UK. Fuller is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance and other U.S...
used the Popstars format as inspiration for his new TV show Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
, which was broadcast on ITV soon after Popstars. Pop Idol, which included audience voting and live performances proved even more popular than Popstars with the viewing public, and these elements were worked into the second series of Popstars (named Popstars: The Rivals) which included audience polls and live singing.
Ratings
| Programme | Episode | UK Air Date | Timeslot | Viewers (millions) | Weekly Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ?? | 10 January 2001 | 20:00 | 7,750,000 | 23 |
| 2 | ?? | 13 January 2001 | 18:00 | 7,010,000 | 24 |
| 3 | ?? | 20 January 2001 | 18:00 | 8,060,000 | 25 |
| 4 | ?? | 27 January 2001 | 18:15 | 8,810,000 | 21 |
| 5 | ?? | 31 January 2001 | 20:00 | 10,510,000 | 15 |
| 6 | ?? | 3 February 2001 | 18:45 | 11,350,000 | 8 |
| 7 | ?? | 3 February 2001 | 21:15 | 12,630,000 | 6 |
| 8 | ?? | 10 February 2001 | 19:30 | 10,640,000 | 11 |
| 9 | ?? | 17 February 2001 | 21:20 | 8,470,000 | 20 |
| 10 | ?? | 24 February 2001 | 20:15 | 8,830,000 | 18 |
| 11 | ?? | 3 March 2001 | 20:15 | 7,570,000 | 24 |
| 12 | ?? | 10 March 2001 | 20:15 | 8,060,000 | 20 |
| 13 | ?? | 18 March 2001 | 18:15 | 7,220,000 | 24 |