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To mark the 20th anniversary of Will Young winning the inaugural Pop Idol in 2002, Kate Thornton presents a two-part special, Pop Idol: Birth Of A Franchise, taking listeners behind the scenes of the reality-based entertainment music show. Kate, who was the host of The X Factor for two series from 2004 – 2006 as well as a part of the Pop Idol phenomenon on ITV2, speaks to former participants to find out what it was like to be part of a life-changing show that made entertainment history in the UK and then worldwide.

Kate talks to those involved with the show, including Will Young, who recalls his Pop Idol journey from audition to victory, Pete Waterman (an original Pop Idol judge who was also later a judge on Popstars: The Rivals), Nicki Chapman (another original Pop Idol and Popstars judge), and Gareth Gates, who came to second to Will Young in the Pop Idol final.