Who won Pop Idol? Winners list with Will Young

Young, who won the first season of the ITV music competition, reflected on Cowell’s dealings with people and how the young singer had challenged that.

Cowell, known for his outspoken and sometimes hurtful comments, was a judge on the reality show, which aired between 2001 and 2003.

In March 2022, rumors surfaced that the show could return to ITV for its 20th anniversary.

Here’s everything you need to know about who won Pop Idol and if the show could be making a comeback.

Pop Idol was a British singing competition that ran on ITV from 2001 to 2003.

The show was the first of its kind, showing the audience the audition process and letting them vote for the overall winner.

It was hosted by Cowell, music producer Pete Waterman, music promoter and manager Nikki Chapman, and TV personality Neil Fox.

Cowell was known for being particularly critical of singers, often laughing out loud or making hurtful comments.

This was the common judges era, with other popular shows including Anne Robinson’s The Weakest Link.

Pop Idols launched the careers of Young, Gareth Gates and Michelle McManus overnight.

The final between Young and Gates is the most successful audience vote on British television to date.

The show was never officially canceled but was put on indefinite hiatus when The X Factor came to ITV in 2004.

Pop Idol only ran for two seasons, but the winners immediately became household names overnight.

The most successful Pop Idol winner is Young, who is still in the public limelight, having released music and starred in West End productions and television shows.

Here is the list of Pop Idol winners:

Young beat Gates to take the award in the largest audience poll ever recorded on British television.

He has since achieved international fame by releasing eight albums, performing in cabaret in the West End and taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

Michelle McManus: Season 2

McManus won the second season of Pop Idol, much to the dismay of some of the show’s judges.

Comments about the singer are particularly difficult to hear by 2022 standards.

Of McManus’ weight, Waterman said, “Michelle McManus is the only person I’ve ever seen gain weight during competition and it shows her disrespect for the audience that is watching.”

The singer has continued to find success with her music and has guest-starred as a judge on ITV’s Loose Women.

Young mused about standing up to bullying judge Simon Cowell in an interview with Pink News.

The Leave Right Now singer explained, “Ever since I first stood up to a bullying Simon Cowell as a judge, I’ve felt a responsibility when people who don’t have a voice can’t shed light on certain things that I do so.”

“It’s very fulfilling and I really enjoy it.”

He added: “We all have times when we need to stand up for ourselves. I had a degree in politics, I used to take part in protests, I wasn’t very interested in seeing people being abused in any form.

“And it really wasn’t just for me when I spoke up, it was for all the other people that he was horrible to.

“People who are bullies are only as powerful as the power you give them and he had no power over me so I didn’t back down.”

Pop Idol is rumored to be making a comeback, but nothing concrete has been announced at this time.

In March it was confirmed that ITV was in talks to bring the show back to celebrate its 20th anniversary, meaning it will be in 2024 when it returns.

Speaking to Metro, an anonymous source said, “Absolutely nothing is confirmed at this time.”