Pop Idol discography

{{short description|none}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Italic title|string=Pop Idol}} [[File:Will Young - Glastonbury 2008.jpg|right|thumb|200px|alt=A man with a brown cap wearing a pink T-shirt and holding a microphone. He is looking to the left and smiling.|Will Young was the winner of the first series of ''Pop Idol''. He has subsequently recorded thirteen top-40 singles and seven top-10 albums.]] ''Pop Idol'' was a British television talent show that ran for two series, in 2001 and 2003. The show was produced for ITV in a reality television format and aimed to unearth a previously undiscovered singer who could become an international success. Will Young was the winner of the first series and was awarded with a £1 million music recording contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1809938.stm |title=Will wins Pop Idol |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=10 February 2002 |access-date=22 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1384337/Will-Young-wins-Pop-Idol-contest.html |title=Will Young wins Pop Idol contest |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 February 2002 |access-date=22 June 2009 |location=London}}</ref> Young became the most successful contestant with a series of top-five hits, including his debut single "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart in 2002 and broke chart sales figure records.<ref name = "Record">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1848656.stm |title=Young scores record number one |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 March 2002 |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> During the next seven years he recorded two further number-one singles ("Light My Fire" and "Leave Right Now"), while two of his four albums were number-one in the UK Albums Chart. In the second series, Michelle McManus emerged victorious.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3337385.stm |title=Michelle captures Pop Idol crown |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=21 December 2003 |access-date=24 June 2009}}</ref> Her debut single "All This Time" charted at number one in January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3387601.stm |title=Pop Idol's Michelle tops charts |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 January 2004 |access-date=24 June 2009}}</ref> Her second single, "The Meaning of Love", charted at a peak of number 16 and an album of the same name reached number three in the UK Albums Chart.

A number of artists who did not win either series of ''Pop Idol'' have also had success in the British charts. Gareth Gates, who finished as the runner-up behind Young in the first series, scored a number-one hit with a cover of "Unchained Melody" in March 2002, replacing Young's debut single at the top of the charts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1891053.stm |title=Pop Idol's Gareth is number one |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 March 2002 |access-date=11 July 2009}}</ref> Gates' subsequent releases "Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)" and the double A-side "The Long and Winding Road" / "Suspicious Minds" both reached the top of the charts in 2002. After "What My Heart Wants to Say" ended this run of number-one singles, Gates was joined by The Kumars to record the Comic Relief single for 2003, "Spirit in the Sky".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2850169.stm |title=Comic Relief tops record total |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 March 2003 |access-date=22 June 2009}}</ref> He achieved several more top-20 hits in 2003. After three years away from the music industry, Gates briefly returned in 2007 with a new album – ''Pictures of the Other Side'', which charted at number 23 – and two top-40 singles.<ref>{{cite news |first=Hannah |last=Pool |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/apr/19/popandrock.questiontime |title=Hannah Pool talks to Gareth Gates |work=The Guardian|date=19 April 2007 |access-date=22 January 2010 |location=London}}</ref>

Darius Danesh, who finished in third place in the first series, had a string of successful singles and a top-10 album, including his debut single "Colourblind", which reached number one in August 2002.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2172151.stm |title=Darius scores first number one |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=4 August 2002 |access-date=24 June 2009}}</ref> Other contestants from the first series to have chart success were Sarah Whatmore (who failed to make the selection for the live shows), Rosie Ribbons, Rik Waller, Jessica Garlick and Zoe Birkett. Garlick was additionally chosen to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2002, where she finished third in the competition.<ref name = "Eurovision">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2007888.stm |title='Latin' Latvia win Eurovision |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 May 2002 |access-date=23 March 2010}}</ref> Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes were the only contestants from the second series, other than McManus, to release a charting single. Rhodes finished as runner-up in the competition while Nixon finished third. Within months they formed a duo under the name Sam & Mark. They released a cover of The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" as a double-A side with "Measure of a Man".<ref name="MTV">{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/sam-and-mark/news/37993-sam-and-mark-top-the-chart |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605180343/http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/sam-and-mark/news/37993-sam-and-mark-top-the-chart |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 June 2011 |title=Sam And Mark Top The Chart |publisher=MTV|date=1 August 2006 |access-date=22 January 2010}}</ref> This earned them a debut number-one single in January 2002, while they also reached the top-20 with a follow-up, "The Sun Has Come Your Way" before being dropped by their record label, 19.<ref name="MTV"/><ref>{{cite web |first=Neil |last=Wilkes |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/popidol/news/a15229/sam-and-mark-axed.html |title=Sam and Mark 'axed' |website=Digital Spy |date=2 August 2004 |access-date=22 January 2010}}</ref>

As of December 2015, Pop Idol contestants have had 14 charting albums, with McManus the only participant from the second series to peak inside the top-100. Forty-three singles released by Pop Idol contestants have charted in the United Kingdom. Young has had 17 singles peak within the top-100, followed by Gates with nine entries. Darius Danesh has also had six charting songs.

Only songs charted in the Top-100 in the UK Singles Chart are included in this list.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Artist(s) !! Series !! Position in Show !! Song title(s) !! Release date !! UK peak chart position !! class="unsortable"|Ref |- | rowspan="17| {{sortname|Will|Young}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="40"|1 || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="17"|{{sort|1|Winner}} || "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|2|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name="Will Young">{{cite web |title=Will Young – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/will%20young/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503052028/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/WILL%20YOUNG/ |archive-date=3 May 2010}}</ref> |- | "Light My Fire"||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|5|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "The Long and Winding Road" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|9|23}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Don't Let Me Down" / "You and I"||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|11|18}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|02|2}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Leave Right Now"||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|11|24}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Your Game"||{{dts|format=dmy|2004|3|15}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|03|3}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- |"Friday's Child" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2004|7|5}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|04|4}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Switch It On" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2005|11|14}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|05|5}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "All Time Love" || {{dts|format=dmy|2006|1|16}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|03|3}}||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Who Am I" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2006|4|24}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|11|11}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Changes" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2008|9|15}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|10|10}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Grace" || {{dts|format=dmy|2008|12|22}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|33|33}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Let It Go" || {{dts|format=dmy|2009|3|2}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|58|58}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Hopes & Fears" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2009|11|8}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|65|65}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Jealousy" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2011|11|19}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|05|5}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Come On" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2011|11|21}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|83|83}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | "Losing Myself" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2012|3|18}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|72|72}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | rowspan="9"|{{sortname|Gareth|Gates}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="9"|{{sort|2|Runner Up}} || "Unchained Melody" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|3|18}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name="Gareth Gates">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/gareth%20gates/ |title=Gareth Gates – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071450/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/gareth%20gates/ |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> |- || "Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|7|8}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name="Gareth Gates" /> |- | "The Long and Winding Road" / "Suspicious Minds"{{ref label|Winding|B|}} ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|9|23}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} || <ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | "What My Heart Wants to Say" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|12|9}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|05|5}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | "Spirit in the Sky"{{ref label|Spirit|C|}} ||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|3|10}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | "Sunshine" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|9|13}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|03|3}}|| <ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | "Say It Isn't So" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|12|8}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|04|4}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | "Changes" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2007|4|9}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|14|14}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | "Angel on My Shoulder" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2007|6|18}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|22|22}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | rowspan="6"|{{sortname|Darius|Danesh|Darius Campbell}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6"|Third || "Colourblind"||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|7|29}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name="Darius">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/darius/ |title=Darius – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217221132/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/darius/ |archive-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> |- | "Rushes"||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|11|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|05|5}} ||<ref name = "Darius" /> |- | "Incredible (What I Meant to Say)"||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|3|3}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|09|9}} ||<ref name = "Darius" /> |- | "Girl in the Moon"||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|6|9}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|21|21}}|| <ref name = "Darius" /> |- | "Kinda Love"||{{dts|format=dmy|2004|10|18}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|08|8}} ||<ref name = "Darius" /> |- | Live Twice ||{{dts|format=dmy|2005|1|10}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|07|7}} ||<ref name = "Darius" /> |- | rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Rosie|Ribbons}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|4th || "Blink"||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|10|21}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|12|12}} ||<ref name="Rosie Ribbons">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/rosie%20ribbons/ |title=Rosie Ribbons – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071534/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/rosie%20ribbons/ |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> |- | "A Little Bit"||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|1|13}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|19|19}} ||<ref name = "Rosie Ribbons" /> |- | {{sortname|Zoe|Birkett}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|6|6th}} || "Treat Me Like a Lady"||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|1|13}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|12|12}} ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/zoe%20birkett/ |title=Zoe Birkett – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071543/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/zoe%20birkett/ |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> |- |{{sortname|Jessica|Garlick}} || style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|9|9th}} || "Come Back"{{ref label|Garlick|A|}} ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|5|13}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|13|13}} ||<ref name="Jessica Garlick">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/jessica%20garlick/ |title=Jessica Garlick – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071517/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/jessica%20garlick/ |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Rik|Waller}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{sort|10|10th}} || "I Will Always Love You" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|3|4}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|06|6}} ||<ref name="Rik Waller">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/rik%20waller/ |title=Rik Waller – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071456/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/rik%20waller/ |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> |- | Something Inside (So Strong)" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|6|24}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|25|25}} ||<ref name = "Rik Waller" /> |- | rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Sarah|Whatmore}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|{{sort|11|Heat 5}} || "When I Lost You"||{{dts|format=dmy|2002|9|9}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|06|6}} ||<ref name="Sarah Whatmore">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/sarah%20whatmore/ |title=Sarah Whatmore – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217170513/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/sarah%20whatmore/ |archive-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> |- | "Automatic"||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|2|10}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|11|11}} ||<ref name = "Sarah Whatmore" /> |- | rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Michelle|McManus}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="7"|2|| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|Winner || "All This Time"||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|11|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name="Michelle McManus">{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/michelle/ |title=Michelle McManus – Top 75 Releases |publisher=The Official Charts Company |access-date=13 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615072717/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/michelle/ |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> |- | "The Meaning of Love"||{{dts|format=dmy|2004|1|26}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|16|16}} ||<ref name = "Michelle McManus" /> |- | rowspan="2"|Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes{{ref label|S&M|D|}}|| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"|Runner's Up || "With a Little Help from My Friends" / "Measure of a Man"||{{dts|format=dmy|2004|2|9}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|01|1}} ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/River%20Below |title=With a Little Help from My Friends / Measure of a Man |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=22 June 2009}}</ref> |- | "The Sun Has Come Your Way" ||{{dts|format=dmy|2004|5|24}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|19|19}} ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/River%20Below |title=The Sun Has Come Your Way |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=22 June 2009}}</ref> |- |rowspan="3"|{{sortname|Jodie|Connor}}|| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|Final 50||"Good Times" (with Roll Deep)||{{dts|format=dmy|2010|4|26}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|01|1}}|| |- |"Now or Never" (featuring Wiley)||{{dts|format=dmy|2011|1|13}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|14|14}}|| |- |"Bring It" (with Tinchy Stryder)||{{dts|format=dmy|2011|2|20}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|37|37}}|| |}

==Albums== ===Solo albums=== Only albums that charted in the Top 100 of the UK Albums Chart are included in this list.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Artist !! Series !! Album title !! Release date !! UK peak chart position !! class="unsortable"|Ref |- | rowspan="9"|{{sortname|Will|Young}} || rowspan="14" style="text-align:center;"| 1 || ''From Now On'' || {{dts|format=dmy|2002|10|7}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | ''Friday's Child'' ||{{dts|format=dmy|2003|12|1}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | ''Keep On'' ||{{dts|format=dmy|2005|11|21}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|02|2}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | ''Let It Go'' ||{{dts|format=dmy|2008|9|29}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|02|2}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | ''The Hits'' ||{{dts|format=dmy|2009|11|16}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|09|9}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | ''Echoes'' ||{{dts|format=dmy|2011|8|19}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- |''The Essential'' ||{{dts|format=dmy|2013|10|14}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|15|15}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- |''85% Proof'' ||{{dts|format=dmy|2015|5|25}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|01|1}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- |''Lexicon'' || {{dts|format=dmy|2019|6|21}}|| style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|02|2}} ||<ref name = "Will Young" /> |- | rowspan="3"|{{sortname|Gareth|Gates}} || ''What My Heart Wants to Say'' || {{dts|format=dmy|2002|10|26}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|02|2}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- |''Go Your Own Way'' || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|9|22}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|11|11}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- |''Pictures of the Other Side'' || {{dts|format=dmy|2007|6|25}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|23|23}} ||<ref name = "Gareth Gates" /> |- | rowspan="2"|{{sortname|Darius|Danesh|Darius Campbell}} || ''Dive In'' || {{dts|format=dmy|2002|12|2}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|06|6}} ||<ref name = "Darius" /> |- | ''Live Twice'' || {{dts|format=dmy|2004|10|25}} || style="text-align:center;"|{{sort|36|36}} ||<ref name = "Darius" /> |- | {{sortname|Michelle|McManus}} || style="text-align:center;"| 2 || ''The Meaning of Love''||{{dts|format=dmy|2004|2|16}}|| style="text-align:center;"| {{sort|03|3}} ||<ref name = "Michelle McManus" /> |}

===Pop Idol albums=== In addition to the solo material released by the contestants, Sony BMG released two CDs featuring songs performed by the finalists, one for each series of the show.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Album title !! Series !! Release date !! UK peak chart position!!class=unsortable|Ref |- |''Pop Idol: The Big Band Album'' || style="text-align:center;"| 1 || {{dts|format=dmy|2002|4|}}|| style="text-align:center;"| — ||<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_1916000/1916484.stm |title=Pop Idol album hits the shops |work=Newsround |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=8 April 2002 |access-date=23 March 2010}}</ref> |- |''Pop Idol: The Idols - Xmas Factor'' || style="text-align:center;"| 2 || {{dts|format=dmy|2003|12|}}|| style="text-align:center;"| — ||<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3212000/3212687.stm |title=Pop Idol stars hope for Xmas hit |work=Newsround |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 October 2003 |access-date=23 March 2010}}</ref> |}

===Other releases=== Several contestants also released songs which failed to reach the main singles or albums charts. Rosie Ribbons recorded an album entitled ''Misbehaving'' but was dropped by her record label, Telstar Records, when they ran into financial difficulties and the album was only released in a promotional version.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3007717.stm |title=Pop Idols: Where are they now? |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=21 May 2003 |access-date=21 June 2009}}</ref> Jessica Garlick released "Hard Not to Fall" as a download single on 11 May 2009 to coincide with the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/8044943.stm |title=Singer who knows Eurovision story |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=14 May 2009 |access-date=21 June 2009}}</ref>

Will Young additionally appeared as a featured artist on the Band Aid 20 UK number-one charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4011903.stm |title=Pop stars sample Band Aid reality |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=15 November 2004 |access-date=14 January 2010 |first=Ian |last=Youngs}}</ref>

==By artist== {| class="sortable wikitable" |- !Artist !Top-100 singles entries !Top-100 albums entries !Number-one singles !Number-one albums |- |{{sortname|Will|Young}} |align=center|17 |align=center|8 |align=center|4{{ref label|Collaboration|E|}} |align=center|4 |- |{{sortname|Gareth|Gates}} |align=center|9 |align=center|3 |align=center|4{{ref label|Collaborations|E|}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |{{sortname|Darius|Danesh|Darius Campbell}} |align=center|6 |align=center|2 |align=center|1 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |{{sortname|Michelle|McManus}} |align=center|2 |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |Sam & Mark |align=center|2 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|1 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |{{sortname|Sarah|Whatmore}} |align=center|2 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |{{sortname|Rik|Waller}} |align=center|2 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |{{sortname|Rosie|Ribbons}} |align=center|2 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |{{sortname|Zoe|Birkett}} |align=center|1 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |- |{{sortname|Jessica|Garlick}} |align=center|1 |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |align=center|{{sort|0|—}} |}

==Chart records== "Unchained Melody" and "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" became two of the most successful singles of the 2000s, selling more than 1 million copies, two of only 10 songs that achieved that feat during the decade.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme/41975 |title=Alexandra Burke's 'Hallelujah' joins 'million-selling singles list |magazine=NME|date=9 January 2009 |access-date=22 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604043244/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/41975 |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> "Anything Is Possible" / "Evergreen" sold 385,000 copies during its first day of sale in a single chain of record stores, Virgin Megastores, beating the total of 160,000 copies of Hear’Say's "Pure and Simple" in 2001.<ref name = "Record" /> Hear'Say sold 550,000 during a whole week, while Young had advance orders of 1.2 million copies at HMV record stores.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1839086.stm |title=Pop Idol single 'flying off shelves' |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 February 2002 |access-date=22 June 2009}}</ref> It beat Band Aid's record of 750,000 sales in the first week of release, eventually reaching 1.2 million sales.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4070073.stm |title=Band Aid 20 singles storms to No. 1 |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 December 2004 |access-date=19 December 2009}}</ref> Young's song was named as the biggest-selling single of the decade at the end of 2009, with Gates' debut finishing in second place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/will-young/49046 |title=Will Young and James Blunt win biggest selling single and album of the noughties |work=NME|date=31 December 2009 |access-date=22 January 2010}}</ref>

==Notes== *{{note label|Garlick|A|}} Jessica Garlick was chosen to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002, where she performed "Come Back".<ref name="Euro">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1852467.stm |title=Idol singer picked for Eurovision |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 March 2002 |access-date=21 June 2009}}</ref> She finished third in the competition and the song charted at #13 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref name = "Eurovision" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2008760.stm |title=Pop Idol's Jessica third in Eurovision |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 May 2002 |access-date=21 June 2009}}</ref> *{{note label|Winding|B|}} "The Long and Winding Road" / "Suspicious Minds" was released as a double A-side single. Gareth Gates and Will Young were featured on the former but the latter was sung only by Gates.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} *{{note label|Spirit|C|}} Gareth Gates collaborated with The Kumars from the television programme ''The Kumars at No. 42'' for the 2003 Comic Relief single, a cover of "Spirit in the Sky".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/rednoseday/2/comic-relief-charity-singles-over-the-years/ |title=Comic Relief charity singles over the years |publisher=Yahoo! Music|access-date=22 June 2009}}</ref> *{{note label|S&M|D|}} Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes recorded under the name Sam & Mark. *{{note label|Collaboration|E|}} The figure includes the joint number-one "The Long and Winding Road" / "Suspicious Minds".

==See also== {{Portal|Television|United Kingdom|Music}} *''Popstars'' (UK TV series) discography *''Fame Academy'' discography *''The X Factor'' (UK) discography

==References== ;General *{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p527379|pure_url=yes}} |title=(((Will Young > Discography))) |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 January 2010}} *{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p532905|pure_url=yes}} |title=(((Gareth Gate > Discography))) |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 January 2010}} *{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p489931|pure_url=yes}} |title=(((Darius > Discography))) |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 January 2010}} *{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p639181|pure_url=yes}} |title=(((Michelle McManus > Discography))) |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 January 2010}} *{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p664672|pure_url=yes}} |title=(((Sam & Mark > Discography))) |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=22 January 2010}}

;Specific {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0302163/ ''Pop Idol'' IMDb profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090420145907/http://www.popwinners.co.uk/pop-idol/index.htm Details on the contestants]

Discography Pop Idol