The X Factor: Sharon Osbourne reveals reason Simon Cowell fired her

Will obviously beat Gareth Gates in the final and went on to release a string of massive singles including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now. He released a greatest hits album in 2009 and just missed out on a spot on The Voice UK panel to The Script's Danny O'Donoghue. In 2016 he joined Strictly Come Dancing; only to leave the show three weeks later due to 'personal reasons.' Will still makes music and will be releasing his book To Be A Gay Man in September 2020.

Gareth released three studio albums after finishing in second place, including the absolute tune that was Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake). In 2014 he competed in Dancing on Ice: All Stars and joined supergroup 5th Story on The Big Reunion. He was in a relationship with Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes from 2012 to 2019 before being linked to DJ Chloe McLennan in July 2020.

Zoe came fourth on the show and released a top twenty single (Treat Me Like a Lady, which reached number 12) before being dropped by Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller's label. In 2014 she entered Big Brother (not even the celebrity version) and came ninth.

The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.

Darius Campbell (who back then went by Darius Danesh) had previously auditioned for Popstars with his cover of Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time; and returned to Pop Idol the next year. He went on to release five top ten singles and won ITV show Popstar to Operastar in 2010. Darius married actress Natasha Henstridge in 2011 but filed for divorce just two years later.

After finishing fifth, Hayley bagged a small role on Coronation Street and starred as Sandy in Grease alongside Robbie Williams' best mate Jonathan Wilkes. She auditioned for The X Factor in 2012 (though didn't make it past boot camp) and in 2016 was one of the candidates set to represent Romania at Eurovision before pulling out due to a severe knee injury.

Rosie signed a five-album deal after coming sixth; releasing top twenty singles Blink and A Little Bit. After her record label went bust she was released from her contract, but Rosie did enter Australian Idol in 2007. Didn't make it through to the final 12, though.

Laura now has a music degree after graduating from the University of Ulster in 2006. She also teaches hip-hop dancing in schools.

Aaron now plays weddings and functions as part of the Aaron Bayley Band (inspired.) He also joined fellow popstar-types Andy Scott-Lee, Stacey McClean, Rikki Loney and Kavana in supergroup G*Mania, who went on tour performing Glee songs.

Rik was replaced by Darius when he was forced to leave the live shows due to severe laryngitis. He released a top 10 single - a cover of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You - and appeared on Celebrity Fit Club in 2002. Back in March 2014, he was an exam invigilator.

The first contestant to be eliminated from Pop Idol is also known as Chris Niblett. According to his LinkedIn profile, Korben's been a Regional Education Manager at Estee Lauder Travel since late 2014.

She might've only finished ninth, but Jessica went on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with Come Back. She even managed to come third, which is pretty bloody amazing.