Pop Idol stars now as Gareth Gates wins Celeb SAS - Corrie role and tragic death

06 November 2023 , 13:24

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It was the beginning of the millennium when Pop Idol exploded onto our screens paving the way for future TV talent shows like The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and The Voice UK. Viewers watched in awe as amateur singers shared their stories and attempted to wow the judging panel made up of Pete Waterman, Neil Fox, Nicki Waterman and Simon Cowell.

Remember teen heartthrob Gareth Gates who was bullied at school for his stammer? How about Will Young who won the very first show in 2001? While it only aired for two seasons, its stars have gone on to do many other things - we take a look at what the Pop Idol contestants are up to now.

Gareth Gates

Gareth Gates won Celebrity SAS

Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates was just 17 when he narrowly missed out on winning the show but he still went on to achieve several big hits including a cover of Unchained Melody. Although he hasn't released a single since 2007, Gareth has enjoyed a successful musical theatre career starring in Les Miserables and Legally Blonde. Gareth has a 13-year-old daughter from a previous relationship and was dating Corrie star Faye Brookes (who played Kate Connor) until August 2019.

Gareth Gates says he has finally rectified being Britain’s “biggest loser” on Pop Idol by winning Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins yesterday (Nov 5). He was crowned the winner after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was told he had failed the course as he could not be trusted.

Gareth Gates endured physical challenges and a tough interrogation alongside Matt Hancock, Danielle Lloyd, Teddy Soares and Perri Shakes Drayton in Sunday night’s episode and said winning the show meant a lot to him. “I thought at last, I’ve actually won a talent TV show and not came second this time. It was a massive weight off my shoulders. I’ve finally redeemed myself from being the biggest loser in the UK back in 2002."

Corrie's Sue Cleaver says I'm A Celebrity stint helped her to push boundaries

Will Young

Will Young won Pop Idol in 2001 (Fremantle Media/REX/Shutterstock)

Singing sensation Will Young was the first ever contestant to win Pop Idol when he was just 22-years-old narrowly beating Gareth Gates to the post. He went on to have a successful music career with a number of top 40 hits including Light My Fire and Leave Right Now, four number one albums and took home BRIT Awards in 2003 and 2005. In 2016, he joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing but dropped out at week three because of 'personal reasons'

Now aged 43, Will boasts 127k Instagram followers and spends a lot of time with his dog. He is still creating music but prefers to enjoy a relaxed life and has released his book titled 'To be a Gay Man'. In January 2023 Young returned to the theatre with the one-man show Song from Far Away, by Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens and Mark Eitzel, at the HOME Theatre in Manchester.

Darius Danesh

Sadly, Darius Danesh died in 2021

Darius first came to prominence when he appeared in the first series of Popstars in 2001, and the 2002 inaugural series of Pop Idol. Although he didn’t win, Darius came third and went on to make five top ten singles, including chart topper Colourblind. He supported singing sensation Shakira on her live tour.

The singer also turned his hand to musical theatre and won the show Popstar to Opera star in 2010. The Scottish musician wed Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge in 2011 but he filed for divorce two years later. Sadly, in 2021 41-year-old Darius was found dead at an apartment in Minnesota in the US. “The results of medical examinations have confirmed that Darius's death was an accident caused by chloroethane, which is used to treat pain and that tragically lead to respiratory arrest,” a statement read. “Darius was suffering from chronic neck pain following a car accident in 2010.”

Zoe Birkett

Pop Idol's Zoe was just 16 when she won the talent show. She released a single called Treat Me Like a Lady following her television stint, which scored a number 12 hit in the charts but was soon dropped by her recording label following the 'flop'.

Since then, Zoe has gone on to star in a number of musical performances and was Alexandra Burke's understudy for Broadway show The Bodyguard. Since 2009, Birkett has performed in West End theatre. She has performed in Thriller Live, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Bodyguard and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Zoe went into the house in 2014 and came in ninth place. Today, Zoe has 40.8k social media followers and describes herself as a 'mamma and West End Singer.'

Hayley Evetts

Hayley Evetts starred in Grease at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham. (Sunday Mercury)

Hayley Evetts came in fifth place on Pop Idol and landed herself a small role on afterwards. In 2012, the budding singer auditioned for a second shot at fame on The X Factor but sadly didn't make it past the bootcamp. Then in 2016, Hayley was hoping to represent Romania at the Eurovision song contest but was forced to withdraw because of a severe knee injury and now stays out of the spotlight.

Rik Waller

Rik Waller appeared on Pop Idol in 2002 wowing viewers with his rendition of I Will Always Love You (Mission Pictures)

Rik Waller made a big impression on Pop Idol although he had to drop out of the competition due to laryngitis and was replaced by Darius in the show who ended up coming in third. Despite his early exit, the singer went on to land a top ten hit with a cover of I Will Always Love You. A year later Rik appeared on another reality TV show, Celebrity Fit Club.

Rik started his own band and headed on tour, but disappointing ticket sales meant many of his shows were cancelled. As his music career slipped away from him, Rik also faced financial difficulties and ended up queuing at the job centre. By 2014, it was reported he was working as an exam invigilator at a local school.

Jessica Garlick

Jessica Garlick came third in Eurovision 2009 (WireImage)

Although Jessica came in ninth, she went on to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest the following year. Amazingly, her entry Comeback, came in third - which is unheard of in modern UK Eurovision memory, Jessica got married in 2004 and has two children. Although she tried to revive her music career in 2009, her single failed to take off. She has been married to personal trainer husband Owen Satterley for 18 years. The couple have been dating since they were teenagers and married in Las Vegas in 2004.