Before The X Factor, before American Idol, before Britain's Got Talent and all its various spin-offs, there was Pop Idol.

For those of us old enough to remember, the ITV show was the first of its kind of these 'TV talent shows' to find the Next Big Thing in pop music.

The winner of the first series, which took place at the end of 2001/the beginning of 2002, was of course, Will Young, as he reminded us on Twitter today:

Since winning the series, Young has sustained a pretty successful career, has dabbled in stage musicals, release an autobiography and his most recent album was 2015's '85% Proof', which debuted at number 1 in the UK charts.

But what of the other contestants from the first series? Let's take a look at where they are now...

GARETH GATES

The spiky-haired youngster with the stammer that endeared himself to a nation was just 17 when he finished as runner-up to Will Young. These days, you're more likely to see him in a West End musical; since 2009, he's had roles in Les Mis, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Boogie Nights: The Musical, Legally Blonde and Footloose. He was married to Suzanne before splitting in 2012 and his partner is now his fellow musical theatre star Faye Brooks, with whom he can be regularly seen posing with on Instagram. FYI: he's also pretty buff these days. (Just don't mention Jordan).

 

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RIK WALLER

The larger-than-life contestant made it to the final ten contestants in the first series, but after contracting laryngitis he was forced to pull out in Week 2. Nevertheless, he went on to have two UK Top 40 hits with his covers of 'Something Inside (So Strong)' and 'I Will Always Love You'. His music career soon nosedived, however, and in 2013 he became an exam invigilator (yes, really), with a karaoke business with his dad on the side. He also appears to have grown his hair long and dyed it purple at one point, but he's not a part of the showbiz world.


(Pic via Daily Mail)
 

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DARIUS DANESH

The Scottish man with the bad ponytail replaced Waller in Week 2 and was eventually eliminated in Week 8, finishing third overall. He enjoyed a brief solo career with hits like 'Colourblind', but like Gates, he's gone on to enjoy quite a successful stage musical career as 'Darius Campbell' and has even dabbled in opera, having won the 'Popstar to Operastar' show on ITV in 2010. Most recently, he's starred in a UK production of 'Funny Girl'.

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ZOE BIRKETT

We had to trawl the deepest recesses of our memories for this one – but it was in there somewhere. Zoe Birkett was just 16 when she appeared on Pop Idol, finishing in fourth place. Her solo career flopped after the show, but like her fellow former contestants, she's appeared in panto and musicals over the years – even making it to the West End for a few shows. Eagled-eyed Big Brother fans may also recognise her: she was a contestant on the show in 2015. As well as preparing to be a first-time mum these days, she also runs her own performance academy for youngsters.

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HAYLEY EVETTS

At 25, Hayley Evetts was one of the older members of the Final 10 on Pop Idol. After originally auditioning (unsuccessfully) for Popstars the previous year, she eventually finished fifth. She's had an eclectic career since then, with presenting gigs on Sky and on 'Popstars: The Rivals Extra' with Dane Bowers, before landing a short-lived role as Eve on Coronation Street. She then embarked on a musicals career, auditioning again for The X Factor in 2012 but failing to make it to the Judges' House stage. Last year, she was selected to represent Romania in Eurovision but had to withdraw due to a 'knee injury'.