List of Pop Idol finalists (series 2)
Pop Idol is a British interactive reality talent show. The second series was broadcast on ITV between 2 August and 20 December 2003. The series saw a series of auditions for aspiring singers, with a final 50 performing in a series of five pre-recorded shows. Two contestants from each show went through to make up a final 10 who performed live in front of a studio audience, with two more places being offered through a wildcard.
One contestant who received the least votes from television viewers left the show each week. Michelle McManus won the competition, beating Mark Rhodes in the final on 20 December 2003.
Finalists
Kirsty Crawford
Susanne Manning
Michelle McManus
Michelle McManus from Glasgow won the competition. She was frequently praised for her vocals in the competition, but she her weight was regularly identified as a problem, particularly by Pete Waterman. Despite her first single "All This Time" reaching #1, Michelle's follow-up work failed to chart well, and as a result, she was dropped from her record label.
Sam Nixon
Mark Rhodes
Mark Rhodes from Walsall was the Runner-Up. He regularly appeared in the bottom 2 or 3 of the voting, so his place in the final was widely considered to be a shock. After the competition, Rhodes teamed up with third placer Sam Nixon, and they became a double act, successfully releasing a cover of The Beatles song "With A Little Help from My Friends" which made it to the top of the charts. After their second single failed to live up to expectations, Sam and Mark moved into presenting children's TV, where they have remained successful.