BROADCASTS.com

Before \u2018The X Factor\u2019 and \u2018The Voice\u2019, there was \u2018Pop Idol\u2019, the ITV behemoth that spawned Simon Fuller\u2019s global mega-hit \u2018American Idol\u2019.\xa0\nSeason One climaxed on 9th February, 2002, when Gareth Gates - a 17-year-old former head chorister - and Will Young - a politely-spoken 23-year-old alumnus of Wellington College - slugged it out for the title of Pop Idol champion.\nBritain was captivated as the public strove to choose their favourite cover version of an unreleased Westlife album track - with over 15 million people tuning in, and 8.7 million casting their votes via telephone. Will emerged as the winner, but perhaps the real winner was the format - which centred the Judges, particularly \u2018Nasty\u2019 Simon Cowell, in a way that would inspire dozens of talent show successors.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly recall how producer Nigel Lythgoe ramped up the \u2018battle\u2019 element of the competition with rosettes and battle buses; consider the homophobic coverage of Young\u2019s sexuality in the mainstream media; and reveal Rebecca\u2019s place in Pop Idol history\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018And your new Pop Idol is... Will\u2019 (The Observer, 2002): https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/feb/10/bensummerskill.theobserver\n\u2022 \u2018Life after Will Young: how talent shows shaped Britain\u2019 (The Guardian, 2022): https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jan/29/life-after-will-young-how-talent-shows-shaped-britain\n\u2022\xa0\u2019Pop Idol: The Winner is Revealed\u2019 (ITV, 2002):\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKz-TYXdIQI\nWe'll be back on Monday - unless you join \U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\U0001f334, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!\nPlus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices