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The second and most recent series of British reality television show Pop Idol aired on ITV on from 13 September to 20 December 2003. Michelle McManus was announced as the winner and received a £1 million recording contract to release her debut album. Ant & Dec returned to present the show on ITV, whilst Simon Cowell, Neil Fox, Nicki Chapman and Pete Waterman all returned as judges.

The second series was not as successful as the first series, and the viewing figures for the finale were much lower. Waterman considered McManus an unworthy winner. In 2004, Pop Idol was axed and ITV announced a new show created by Cowell, with no involvement from Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller—The X Factor. The perceived similarity between the two shows later became the subject of a legal dispute.

Live shows

The live shows began on 25 October, and continued through to the live final on 20 December.

Finalists

* as of the start of the series

Heats and live shows

Results summary

Colour key

• In week 1 of the finals, Chris and Andy received the same vote percentage as did Roxanne and Brian. In week 2, Mark and Chris received the same vote percentage.

Live show details

Heat 1 (13 September- Recorded on 10 September 2003)

Notes;

• The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Michelle McManus and Chris Hide advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other eight contestants were eliminated.
• Jason Brock and Rebecca Hayes returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.

Heat 2 (20 September-Recorded on 17 September 2003)

Notes

• The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Kirsty Crawford and Brian Ormond advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
• Jodie Connor and Susanne Manning returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.

Heat 3 (27 September- Recorded on 24 September 2003)

Notes

• The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Andy Wood and Roxanne Cooper advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
• Kieran McDonald and Sam Nixon returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.

Heat 4 (4 October- Recorded on 1 October 2003)

Notes

• The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Leon McPherson and Kim Gee advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
• None of the contestants from this round made it into the Wildcard Round, making it the only group to not be represented at that stage.

Heat 5 (11 October- Recorded on 8 October 2003)

Notes

• The hosts revealed the contestants who received the top five numbers of votes in reverse order. Andy Scott-Lee and Mark Rhodes advanced to the top 12 of the competition. The other 8 contestants were eliminated.
• Glen Harvey and Danielle Tedford returned for a second chance at the top 12 in the Wildcard Round.
• Craig Chalmers later went on to make the live finals of Any Dream Will Do in 2007.

Wildcard round (18 October)

For the first time (and only time) on the UK version of Pop Idol, there was a Wildcard Round where previously eliminated contestants returned for a second chance at making it through to the live finals. As a result, the final 10 was to become a final twelve. The judges announced which eight contestants would earn a Wildcard place at the end of the 11 October results show, and that after they perform the public would choose one contestant to go through, and the judges would pick another. The eight contestants who contested the Wildcard Round were Jason Brock, Jodie Connor, Glen Harvey, Rebecca Hayes, Susanne Manning, Kieran McDonald, Sam Nixon and Danielle Tedford.

Notes

• The judges selected Sam to move on into the Top 12 of the competition, before the hosts revealed the Top 3 vote getters. Susanne received the most votes, and completed the top 12. It was not made clear whether or not Sam was actually in the top 3, as the hosts stated that it was the top 3 of the remaining 7 contestants. Danielle missed out on the finals by one place for the second time.
• In 2010, Jodie Connor's vocals were featured on the UK number-one single "Good Times" by London grime collective, Roll Deep, and she later went onto launch a solo career.

Live show 1 (25 October)

• Theme: Songs by contestant's 'Pop Idol'
• Best bits songs: "You Are Not Alone" (Leon McPherson) & "Nobody Does It Better" (Kirsty Crawford)

Due to the addition of two extra contestants through the Wildcard Round, it was announced that for the first two weeks of the finals, two contestants would be eliminated instead of the standard one.

• Judges Prediction of who will leave
• Neil Fox: Leon McPherson and Mark Rhodes
• Nicki Chapman: Leon McPherson and Michelle McManus
• Pete Waterman: Leon McPherson and Kirsty Crawford
• Simon Cowell: Leon McPherson and Kirsty Crawford

Notes

• Just 80 votes separated Chris Hide and Andy Wood in week one.

Live show 2 (1 November)

• Theme: Songs from contestant's birth year
• Best bits songs: "Flying Without Wings" (Brian Ormond) & "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (Andy Wood)

• Judges Prediction of who will leave

• Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes & Brian Ormond

• Nicki Chapman: Andy Wood & Brian Ormond

• Pete Waterman: Brian Ormond & Kim Gee

• Simon Cowell: Mark Rhodes & Brian Ormond

Live show 3 (8 November)

• Theme: Elton John songs
• Best bits song: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life"

• Judges Prediction of who will leave

• Neil Fox: Chris Hide

• Nicki Chapman: Chris Hide

• Pete Waterman: Kim Gee

• Simon Cowell: Kim Gee

Live show 4 (15 November)

• Theme: Disco songs
• Best bits song: "Wind Beneath My Wings"

• Judges Prediction of who will leave

• Neil Fox: Chris Hide

• Nicki Chapman: Chris Hide

• Pete Waterman: Roxanne Cooper

• Simon Cowell: Roxanne Cooper

Notes

• Just 697 votes separated Mark Rhodes and Chris Hide in week four.
• Although Hide was second from bottom, he was announced as safe, leading viewers to assume that Suzanne had come second from bottom.

Live show 5 (22 November)

• Theme: The Beatles songs
• Best bits song: "Didn't We Almost Have It All"

• Judges Prediction of who will leave

• Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes

• Nicki Chapman: Mark Rhodes

• Pete Waterman: Mark Rhodes

• Simon Cowell: Mark Rhodes

Live show 6 (29 November)

• Theme: Big band
• Best bits song: "Beautiful"

• Judges Prediction of who will leave

• Neil Fox: Susanne Manning

• Nicki Chapman: Susanne Manning

• Pete Waterman: Susanne Manning

• Simon Cowell: Susanne Manning

Live show 7 (6 December)

• Theme: Christmas songs
• Best bits song: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

• Judges Prediction of who will leave

• Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes

• Nicki Chapman: Mark Rhodes

• Pete Waterman: Mark Rhodes

• Simon Cowell: Mark Rhodes

Live show 8 (13 December)

• Theme: Judges' song choice
• Best bits song: "Hero"

• Judges Prediction of who will leave

• Neil Fox: Mark Rhodes

• Nicki Chapman: Mark Rhodes

• Pete Waterman: Michelle McManus

• Simon Cowell: Refused to vote

Final (20 December)

Reception

Ratings

References

1. Paulse, Wade (22 December 2003). ""Plus-size" contestant wins U.K. 'Pop Idol', as judge Pete Waterman walks out". Reality TV World. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
2. Wilkes, Neil (23 January 2004). "Pete Waterman: "Michelle is rubbish"". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
3. "Cowell reveals new talent search". BBC News. 23 April 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
4. "Dream comes true as Jodie hits No1". Manchester Evening News. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
5. "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB.

• Pop Idol
• 2003 British television seasons
• 2003 in British music
• 2003 in British television